Bachelor 21 - Nick Viall - Blogs - **NO SPOILERS** - NO Discussion - *SLEUTHING*

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The Bachelor's Nick Viall on Premiere Déjà Vu and Finding a Shark (or Two) in the Water
BY NICK VIALL @VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON JANUARY 3, 2017 AT 11:37AM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!  

Trust me, I was as shocked as you were when I was first asked to be the Bachelor. Believe it or not, I thought each season of The Bachelorette would be my last, and Bachelor in Paradise was no different. So, when I was asked to be the Bachelor it was avery surreal moment. In fact, it was so surreal that my first response was, I don’t know if I can do this.

A lot of considerations went through my head on whether I should accept this opportunity. I knew it was an amazing honor to be asked and could be an unbelievable opportunity. I have always been incredibly grateful for my time in the Bachelor world, and while overall I have no regrets, my time on the show hasn’t come without its hardships. But I have always been a risk taker and have always believed the greatest things in life often come with the greatest risks.

So, despite my fears and reservations, I knew I had to stay true to myself and follow my heart. I knew that deep down I would regret it if I wasn’t willing to face my fears that this could all blow up in my face. I went into this to find love, simple as that. I knew if I gave it my all and came into this with an open heart that I had an amazing chance at finding “the one.”

Preparing myself to meet 30 women was nothing short of exciting, but also nerve-racking. At the time, I didn’t know how many women would come out of those limos, but regardless, preparing to date over 20 women is super surreal. Once my suit was picked out, I caught up with a few former bachelors to hear about their experiences. My good friends Chris Soules, Ben Higgins and the one and only Sean Lowe. The boys gave me some great advice that I would reflect on throughout the season. And it was Sean who reminded me that there were still people in Bachelor Nation who would question me — and probably because they don’t watch Bachelor in Paradise.

Honestly, it’s an amazing program people! Trust me, I’m aware I might be a surprising choice, and I have my fair share of critics out there. I know I’m not perfect. I wanted said yes to The Bachelor for the chance of finding love and to find someone I could spend the rest of my life with. After speaking with my pals, I knew all I could do was be myself.  I wouldn’t be the Perfect Ben or a Prince Farming and certainly had no chance at being like Sean. But I felt good about the fact that whether people supported me or not — no one was going to think I wasn’t coming into this without my flaws. I felt supported and certain that to have this work for me, I was going to be open, honest and put my heart on the line.  

I hardly remember speaking with Chris Harrison outside the mansion I was so excited. I mean, by now you all must think this is so normal for me. But being on the other side of things is a completely different experience. All I kept thinking was, Will the women like me? Will I meet the one? Will Chris ever go away so I can start meeting them?! Thinking back to this night on Andi Dorfman’s season, I remembered being so nervous. So, going into that evening my focus was to make sure that the women felt comfortable and confident and hopefully that would lead to a really positive season.

Meeting the Ladies
I guess I should have prepared myself for the runner-up jokes, but to be honest these ladies killed it. I thought Sarah jogging up to me was super clever, and while Josephine’s hot dog has left a taste that still lingers in my mouth all these months later, I thought it was hilarious. I took comfort in the fact that while Taylor’s friends think I’m terrible, at least she was willing to give me a shot. I was blown away with Astrid and Vanessa speaking other languages and found it super sexy. There were dancers, beautiful smiles, cunning remarks and a camel.

I think back to Ida Marie’s trust fall. As cheesy as it sounds, these women were trusting in me and in this journey. Those first introductions were so amazing, and watching it all over again in the episode is so fun and brings back some awesome memories. I thought back to when I came out of the limo myself and wished I had come up with something more memorable. Don’t get me wrong, every woman in that 30 was beautiful and intriguing, but it was the big gestures that caught my attention and left a mark on who they were. My advice for future Bachelorettes and Bachelors is to make those introductions out of the limo memorable! Everyone loves a good laugh or interesting spark.

Liz
Twenty-nine of those introductions were some of the best I’ve had in my life. And yet there was one woman, Liz, who I’d met prior to the show. When she stepped out of the limo I was in utter shock. I had no idea that she was planning on coming, and I hadn’t spoken with her in about nine months. I was eager to speak with her and had a ton of questions.

Once I sat down with Liz, our conversation was confusing almost immediately. I was caught off guard when she started talking to me as if we had never met. With the understanding that everyone was there with at least an open heart to the possibility of finding love, it didn’t make sense to me that Liz would think I wouldn’t remember who she was, but at the same time, still think I was someone that she might fall in love with.


Then there was the obvious question of why would she show up now when she could have asked Jade for my number. Unfortunately, we could not finish our conversation, not without making sure I would be able to sit down with as many women as possible. Despite my conversation raising more questions than answers, I decided to give Liz a rose. The night of Jade and Tanner’s wedding was great, and this was a girl that I was once intrigued by when we first met. I also considered the fact that Liz must have been very nervous and I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to at least have the chance to finish that conversation with Liz before I made any drastic decisions regarding our relationship.

The 29 Other Women
I still had 29 other women who put their lives on hold for me, and I owed it to them not to let my confusion regarding Liz consume my thoughts all night. As flattered as I was to have 30 women show up to meet me, things got overwhelming — and fast. These women were beautiful and intelligent, and I became nervous I couldn’t give them the best version of me. It was really intimidating to get to know so many women with the time restriction of one night before the first rose ceremony. The hardest part of that evening was making sure I was having meaningful conversations that were more than just a couple minutes. I appreciated all the women willing to try and make time while also understanding that there was only one of me to go around. Watching the episode makes it hard to see women like Jasmine having a difficult time. I know how hard it is to be on that side of things, and I completely understand how it can make anyone emotional.

Alexis
There certainly were a handful of memorable conversations, but none was quite as entertaining as the one I had with Alexis. Truthfully, it was hard to know what exactly Alexis looked like with the costume covering pretty much her entire face. Still, I loved the fact that she committed to keeping it on and having fun with it.  It takes a lot of guts to show up wearing that thing and owning it the entire night. The fact that she stubbornly insisted that she wasn’t a shark but a dolphin only added to the charm of it.

On an evening that can come with a lot of anxiety and nerves it was nice to have Alexis keep it light for everyone. I don’t think she knew it but there were a handful times when I was walking into another conversation with a woman where I’d catch her in the corner of my eye dancing, swimming or catching snacks in her mouth. It was awesome.

Corinne
Corinne was a woman who certainly brought her confidence that night. When she came back for a second conversation, I was a little surprised but at the same time I respected the assertiveness. When I realized that Corinne came back to grab that first kiss I was pretty nervous about it. Out of respect for the other women I didn’t want to do it in a place where they could see, but at the same time I didn’t want to make Corinne feel uncomfortable or regret taking a chance. But I decided it was as good of a time as any to grab that first kiss with a very beautiful woman. I appreciated Corinne being confident enough to take a chance and put her relationship with me above everything else.

Danielle M.
There was something about Danielle M. that made me know almost immediately that she was a great woman. To work as a neonatal nurse takes a certain kind of person. I could feel that Danielle exuded kindness, patience and had the qualities I would want in a partner. I also found out we grew up only a few towns over from one another. I found a familiarity with her while also leaving our conversation wanting to get to know her so much more.

Rachel
I would hand out a lot of roses that night but before I got to the rose ceremony, I had to first decide who I would be giving the First Impression Rose to and was curious as to how I would decide who to give the rose to. I suppose I was hoping that it would almost seem obvious to me — someone would just stand out and I would feel like there was an obvious choice, and that’s kind of how it happened.

I had so many wonderful conversations that night and there was no shortage of great first impressions. I certainly felt the chemistry that Vanessa felt between us, Alexis had me laughing out loud, Corinne held nothing back and Danielle L. was gorgeous in that dress. Despite all that, the connection I had with Rachel felt unlike any other that evening.


It was crazy just how easy it was to be myself around Rachel. As clichéd as it sounds, it was like we had known one another for years, but she still took my breath away. I know what it’s like to receive that First Impression Rose, having gotten it from Andi. And as great a feeling as it was, there is no denying it came with a little target on my back. I felt confident that Rachel had the maturity and class to handle all that came with receiving that first rose.

Rose Ceremony
As the night was coming to an end I could feel the anxiety around the house. I still had four women (Jamie, Dominique, Elizabeth B. and Christina) that I hadn’t had the chance to speak with when Chris Harrison pulled me for the rose ceremony. I decided I was going to give roses to the four women I hadn’t been able to speak with. It felt wrong to make any decision regarding those women without talking with them. Astrid was right; it felt almost impossible to feel completely confident in any of my decisions with such little time with each of the women. I had to trust my gut and follow my heart. I focused on the thought that if there was any part of me that was willing to say goodbye now, then that person wouldn’t be the one for me.  

Next week kicks off the first week of dates. And trust me, the drama unfolds almost immediately. I’m sure you’re all wondering what happens with Liz. All I can say is I never thought my first week would have me so anxious because of someone from my past. There are some shocking revelations and more unanswered questions. But you’ll have to tune in and see for yourselves. You won’t want to miss next week, I promise.

I started this journey with the hope I would find a love that could last forever, a love that was returned and a love that I’ve never felt before. Throughout the season I questioned if I could find that. There are tears, heartbreak and more drama than I imagined. But where I stand today, I am a man who knows he never gave up.

Thanks for reading,
Nick.

The Bachelor airs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC

People.com

The Bachelor's Nick Viall: Defending Corinne's Bold Topless Move & How Liz Most Disappointed Me
BY NICK VIALL  @VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON JANUARY 10, 2017 AT 1:23PM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!

The first night was such a blur, but waking up the next day I couldn’t have been more excited to get to know these women in a more casual setting. So, how appropriate would a wedding photo shoot be for our first date, right? I was secretly hoping Alexis would show up in a new oceanic themed costume, a squid/lobster perhaps? When really we all know it would be a lobster.

I was pinching myself at how wild it felt to be starting this journey as The Bachelor, and when I thought about the 22 women I’d be going into this first week with, I felt lucky. I remembered how excited I was to be in their shoes on Andi‘s season, but group dates can be pretty awkward at times! I wanted to do something fun to break the ice and encourage the women to be themselves.

Hats off to all the ladies for owning each of their looks. I thought it was pretty cool that all the woman rallied behind Brittany because that leaf bottom was a hard number to pull off. I just wish Franco hadn’t chosen the cacti garden for this ensemble. I would also like to announce after a successful shoot with Alexis, I am now qualified to deliver children at a moment’s notice. In contrast to some of the more humorous looks, my time with Taylor was pretty special, and I felt like we had a really good connection during our shoot. As much as I loved Franco and the energy he brought to the shoot, it took me a minute to get used to the intimacy needed for each shoot. Lucky for me, all of these women made it so fun and really kept me in the moment. And who knows, maybe one of these looks will be the pictures for our wedding invites.

Corinne
The biggest surprise of the day came when Corinne decided to take it up a notch — by taking her top off! I was totally shocked. If anyone from Janet Jackson’s camp is reading this, no disrespect, but I was not ready for that!

I love how assertive and bold Corinne is, I just never wanted to intentionally make the other women uncomfortable. After such a fun day, I was really looking forward to spending more one-on-one time with the women going into the afterparty. A handful of women continued to be assertive with their time, and none more than Corinne. I appreciated her focusing on our relationship above everything else.

Listen, I’ve been through this enough seasons to know that, at the time, she was probably ruffling feathers. I know the value of group date roses — they validate the person you give it to and add pressure to the people you don’t. I didn’t want the target that was probably forming on her back to intimidate her to just be herself, and so that is why I wanted to give Corinne the rose.

I also thought about the other women and how they might take it. And to be honest, sometimes you learn a lot more about a person when things aren’t going as expected. I was ready to answer any questions that might arise after my decision. But before I decided to give Corinne the rose, I had some really great conversations with the other women. I feel like it was this date that connected Raven and myself. I appreciate how she was so honest and open about her dating past — something we could connect on. She’s clearly someone who can talk about more meaningful things off the bat, which is very sexy to me.

Danielle M.
I couldn’t have been happier to have Danielle M. on the first one-on-one of the season. I wanted to bring a woman who I felt a strong connection with on the first night, but also who was a bit of a mystery. Danielle was an easy choice.

Landing the helicopter onto the yacht was crazy surreal. We both joked about how it went from The Bachelor to James Bond pretty quickly. Too bad I wasn’t as cool as James Bond because the second we landed on the moving yacht, I had to lay down for five minutes due to motion sickness. But lucky for me, I had my favorite nurse beside me to hold my hand.

Once I felt back to normal — on (somewhat) solid ground — we had a great time. We talked about growing up in Wisconsin and more about her job as a neonatal nurse. Moving onto dinner that night I wanted to learn more about her past. It was heartbreaking to hear about Danielle’s ex fiancée. She has gone through something that I couldn’t even imagine. It puts a lot of things into perspective and in that moment, I knew just how much of a strong and resilient woman she is. On a day-to-day basis she works with these infants who are fragile and need the best care in the world. Danielle has also dealt with tragic heartbreak, but here she is standing strong.

Giving the rose to Danielle was the easiest choice I made that week. Saying goodnight that evening, I didn’t want our date to end and felt excited about what kind of future we could have.

Liz
Okay, so now we need to talk about Liz. Going into the last date of the week I was nervous. Very nervous.

I hadn’t talked with Liz since that first night when she surprised me by getting out of the limo. We left our conversation open, but I had so many questions left. Liz didn’t give me a solid answer on why she was here. While I was eager to continue our conversation, it was an even bigger priority for me to make sure I gave the other five women as much attention.

The concept of The Museum of Broken Relationships is a little crazy, but I think everyone — including myself — found it interesting. I thought, if these girls have a dating history half as crazy as mine, they get it.

I wasn’t too nervous when preparing to hit the stage for the breakup performances. But once the other couples started to break up before us, I couldn’t stop thinking about Liz. All the other women had a good time with this (it was light, it was fun) — even Josephine’s slap didn’t sting as hard as Liz getting on that stage.

I couldn’t believe Liz used our history as the material for the breakup in front of everyone. I was confused by her intentions and disappointed. I couldn’t imagine she thought that was the best approach to communicating. I wondered then, Did she tell any of the women already? Was she deliberately just trying to insight drama with me? I didn’t feel like her performance was beneficial to start up the private conversation we needed to finish, and so I went into the after party with even more questions.

Going into the after party I wanted to be able to spend some time with the other woman before diving into my conversation with Liz.

Sitting down with Kristina, I feel like we were able to get to know a lot more about each other. You don’t see it, but we even snuck into the photo booth for some cute pics that evening. Jaimi opened up about dating women, and we also talked a lot about her hometown of New Orleans. That evening, Jaimi was someone who was sexy, carefree and easy to talk to. She really helped calm the nerves that I had built up that day.

Speaking with Christen, I appreciated her honesty off the bat. I’m sure telling me she knew about Liz couldn’t have been easy, but this is the kind of candor I’m looking for in a partner. I will admit I was concerned that Liz might have told the rest of the women. It was eating me up inside that I was keeping this past from everyone, but, at the same time, I knew I owed it to Liz to speak with her first, before I shared the truth of our relationship openly. I’ve made that mistake in the past.

Once I sat down with Liz, it was my goal to give her the benefit of the doubt and hear her out. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but I knew I needed to ask her pointed questions about her being here and how she handled the situation thus far.

I thought back to when I decided to come back on Kaitlyn’s season — I had decided to take that risk to come back on, because I felt strongly for her. I built a relationship with a Kaitlyn and then it suddenly ended once she was asked to be The Bachelorette. I knew if I decided to come back on it would raise questions. Not only from Kaitlyn and the other men, but also Bachelor nation. However, I knew my reasons and I came in prepared to answer any questions that came my way. I was confident in my intentions, so when I was pressed I was able to answer those questions. I kind of expected the same of Liz. I respected the fact that she was willing to take a chance, even though we hadn’t spoken in months. But as our conversation continued, I wasn’t able to get a real answer as to why she was here or what changed after our first encounter at the wedding. After talking with her at length, I thought it was best for both of us that we say goodbye.

Despite whatever connection we had in the past, the current relationship became too complicated too fast. I just didn’t see us building a strong connection, and I had 21 other women I was excited about getting to know. I’m not big on throwing out the phrase “right reasons” in Bachelor world.  I feel like it’s used too often just because someone is going about a situation in a different way than you. People tend to fear what they don’t understand and in a pressure-filled environment with all sorts of personalities, it is very easy to cast unfair accusations. Saying goodbye to Liz felt like the right decision for me — and honestly, for both of us. I have respect and admiration for Liz and I really hope the best for her.

I’m someone who likes to acknowledge the obvious and not feel like we must do or say things because it’s what we’re supposed to do. There is no denying that when you show up to be on The Bachelor, you are filming a TV show. When I decided to come on Andi’s season, I came for the experience. I thought, “Wow, this could be fun.” I told myself to keep an open mind about the possibility of falling in love, and then I did. That’s all I expected from the women, too — just an open mind. This is an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone, but the key is to be honest with who you’re dating and with yourself. Everything else will fall into place how it should.

Next week you’ll see me navigate how to share the truth without hurting anyone. I truly felt sick not knowing what kind of damage my relationship with Liz would leave. I know saying goodbye to Liz was the best choice, but she had left a shadow that would haunt me if I wasn’t honest with everyone. Christen knew about our past, but who else? I couldn’t continue to date these women if I wasn’t upfront with them about why I said goodbye to Liz and also clear the air about any questions they would have. I was terrified the women would think I was intentionally keeping something from them, but to be honest about the past Liz and I share, I would have to be honest about some intimate details that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing.

I have made the mistake of saying too much in public with Andi. I didn’t want to go down that road again. However, Liz had already started telling people. If these women didn’t hear the truth and facts from me, I didn’t want them thinking I was hiding something.

This was a wild week, but I have to say that next week gets crazier. I went into this role wanting to carve my own path, and I continue to do just that. This season, expect more tears, surprising break ups and jaw-dropping revelations. Things are just heating up.

Thanks for reading,
Nick

People.com

Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 2

Hello again, Bachelor Nation! We are only one week into the dates this season and it’s already proving to be one of the most talked about, most dramatic, and most controversial seasons in Bachelor history. This week ended with a moment that was inevitable for Nick since the moment Liz got out of the limo, but before we get to that, and the aftermath coming next week, let’s dive into the dates first.

No one in Bachelor Nation better personifies that phrase “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” than Nick. He is a friend to many, but no matter how hard he has tried, he still hasn’t been able to hold onto that everlasting love we all want, at least not yet. The first date of the season was a really fun one for Nick and shows his desire to meet someone who wants something permanent, but also knows how to let go and enjoy life. I think it was big of Nick to acknowledge that he didn’t always handle group dates well, and he tried to give the women some helpful insight. Some of the them heeded his advice. Others, not so much.

All the women were amazing sports and really took to their roles for the photo shoot. Alexis was sensational, and her sense of humor shines through, whether she is a dolphin or a shark or a pregnant woman with a gun. Brittany was an excellent sport, taking her role as Eve very seriously and just having fun. Corinne, however, decided to give herself her own role as “topless woman.” As you may have noticed, there is a trend beginning with Corinne. She is unapologetic about what she is here for, and she is going after it. I must applaud her level of honesty, though. It’s very easy to play both sides and pretend you’re not just going for what you want regardless of anyone else. Corinne tells you what she’s going to do — and she does it. Judging from the fact that she got the first group date rose, it’s likely we’ll be seeing her date Nick for a while.

The first one-on-one date of the season is always a big one. Sometimes the person who gets it has a wonderful time, and sometimes the jealousy that comes along with getting that date creates conflict in the house that can overshadow the relationships themselves. I don’t think Nick could have picked a better date to get his love story started than Danielle M. The neonatal nurse is a catch, and her openness about her past and her hope about the future really make her someone to learn and grow with. The first date is obviously very nerve-racking for any Bachelor, as it sets the tone for their romantic journey. I think Nick and Danielle both left the night very happy, but more importantly, very hopeful.

And then there was Liz. I understand that it would be nearly impossible to live in a house full of women who are also dating Nick and not tell any of them about your previous experience with him, but needless to say, it didn’t go well. Nick was in a tough spot: On the one hand, he didn’t want to tell people about Liz’s private business, but on the other hand, he didn’t want to deceive any of the other women. He never lied to them, but omission itself can feel dishonest. Thankfully, Christen was upfront and honest with Nick and let him know that the cat was out of the bag. By doing this, Nick was free to address any potential rumors. But first he had to say goodbye to Liz. I really don’t think it had anything to do with their past. Their conversation that night and the weirdness of the day cemented something for Nick: while there was a past with Liz, there was no future. I think in some ways the strength of his date with Danielle M. made him confident about his chances to find someone, and he no longer felt like Liz was a viable option.

Telling the other women what had happened with Liz was obviously something Nick felt like he had to do, but boy was it uncomfortable.  And the women at this point don’t really know the whole story. Next week, we will see more about how the remaining women respond to this new information, and of course the dates will continue. I promise you that we are just getting started. Bachelor Nation, you have no idea what you’re in for. See you next Monday!

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Bachelor Blog Week 3:  Why The Bachelor's Nick Viall Is 'Standing by Corinne and Her Confidence': She's 'Bold, Sexy and Unique'
BY NICK VIALL  @VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON JANUARY 17, 2017 AT 9:00AM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!

Hey guys, I know it has been a long week after the bomb I dropped on the women at the after party. I had been dreading that moment ever since Liz stepped out of the Limo, because it was only a matter of time before the truth would be told. I am all for transparency in relationships, so it wasn’t that I wanted to keep things secret. I just never wanted to reveal anything too personal or intimate. When sex is a part of the equation, I’ve learned my lesson not to expose anything that would put someone in the hot seat. But once I was confronted by Christine, I had to be honest with everyone else. While my past with Liz was very much behind me, I had to confront the women about it. I was fearful they would be upset with me keeping things from them, but I take ownership of my actions and told them the truth.

I’d figured that the women from the group date would have told the rest of the house by the time I arrived for the cocktail party. But I still wanted to address it immediately, put it all on the table, and make sure they knew that I was happy to answer any questions if the women had concerns. I was extremely anxious when that evening started, but the more I talked with the woman, they put me at ease … and I hope I did the same for them.

Talking with Astrid that evening, I think it was one of the most candid conversations I had that night. She was a little confused and trying to process everything. I appreciate women who lay all their concerns out, and can talk through things. In past relationships, I learned so much about that person through the tough conversations and how we handled them together. This was an evening that I felt would allow me and the woman to get to know more about one another.

Okay, so I’m sure you’re all dying to know what I thought when Corinne took out the whipped cream. If there is one thing Corinne never fails to succeed in, it is being full of surprises. Did I ever expect to find myself in front of the Bachelor mansion with a woman in a trench coat? Never. But Corinne is bold, sexy and unique … so I kind of just ran with it for a moment. I also want to point out she wasn’t naked, even though it might appear that way. That evening also happened to be my birthday, and I think she was trying to channel her inner Marilyn Monroe. It was important to make sure Corinne was comfortable, but I didn’t want to get too carried away with a cocktail party happening, not to mention just moving too fast in our relationship. I never wanted Corinne to find herself with a target on her back … but sleeping through a rose ceremony didn’t help her. These rose ceremony nights are exhausting to say the least. They have an emotional toll, and they’re also just long evenings. Despite the fact Corinne had a rose from the group date, she should have been there out of respect for the women who aren’t in that same position of comfort.

OKAY NOW, EVERYBODY. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BACK – STREET – BOYS! I should be honest, when I met them the morning of the date I totally fan girl’ed a little, and by a little I mean a lot. The biggest regret of this day was not being at the mansion when the girls found out about the date. Especially now after seeing how crazy they went! I mean, what an amazing surprise. This band has been helping me with women since I was a teenager. I owe them first kisses, dates, and girlfriends since the ’90s. I also couldn’t tell you how many shameless routines I’d already danced to from my teen years alone in my room. I put the pressure on The Backstreet Boys this date, if there was any time to pull through for me — it was this moment! When the ladies met me in the studio, I was so psyched to show off the few moves I’d learned before they arrived. I mean, I had to impress them somehow … I was surrounded by the biggest boy band of our lifetime! The women quickly surpassed me in their moves and blew me away with how they mastered the choreography. But best of all, everyone was having a blast. I could tell at the time Corinne was a little uncomfortable, but I knew she had the confidence to pull through. Not to brag, but by the time we hit the stage, we could have easily been confused as legit backup dancers. Jasmine was a natural and owned that stage, Taylor really let loose and showed off some serious talent, but I have to agree with The Backstreet Boys that Danielle L. had brought the heat. It was cool to share that surreal moment with Danielle, and it’s something I don’t think she or I will ever forget.

Heading into the after party, I wanted to continue the high I felt with Danielle. Danielle was someone I’d had instant chemistry with from the night we met, and I felt like this was a date that brought us even closer. I felt natural around her, like we just fit. Giving Danielle the group date rose was easy. I wanted her to know that she not only blew me away on this date, but I could really start to see a future with her. As corny as it sounds, she gave me butterflies … and I’m man enough to admit it.

I need to back up a little, because before I had given that rose out, Nanny Raquel had apparently become MVP of the date. At the time, I hadn’t heard about the Nanny yet, but boy did these women get an introduction. Listen, I can’t judge anybody for what blessings they have in their lives. All I know, is that at the end of the day, if somebody was there to cut up cucumber for you, I’m sure you would take it.

My date with Vanessa was easily one of the coolest moments of my life. Zero G is such a surreal experience, and something that is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The sensation of flying at zero gravity was unbelievable; it really was like we were floating space. We were doing flips, eating floating water and crawling on the ceiling. Vanessa told me once we took off that she tends to get motion sickness, but for the longest time she was doing great! It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes the barf baggy had to come out. But she was such a trooper — getting a little sick didn’t ruin the moment one bit. If anything, I couldn’t help feel closer to her. I remember seeing her get sick and just wanting to do anything to make her feel better. I almost forgot where we were, I just wanted to hold her.

Going into our dinner, I was on such a high. I was excited to spend more time with Vanessa in the hopes that we could build on the magic that we experienced earlier in the day. Sitting down with Vanessa, we connected so easily. Talking about family, relationships and what we want in our futures. The chemistry between us intensified. I’d always found her beautiful, but our emotional connection took hold. I didn’t expect to get emotional around Vanessa and thinking back to that moment it was because I felt an incredible sense of excitement, and hope. Starting this journey, I was stressed this wouldn’t work out. Not because there weren’t amazing women, but I just know how rare it is to find a lifelong love. I feel like I had put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best, or be the man every one of the women wanted me to be. But in that moment with Vanessa, it was clear, that if a connection like this could happen this early, then this whole thing could lead to finding the one. I walked away from that night with a new sense of confidence not only in myself, but in this journey … and Vanessa was a woman I would be lucky to have as a partner.

As we move into the last date of the week, I just want to go on the official record that I did not come up with the name Nickcathalon. I will say, this was such an epic date! To have Carl Lewis, Allyson Felix and Michelle Carter help us with our track and field skills was unreal. These are some seriously talented and impressive athletes. I remember watching Carl Lewis as a kid, and aspiring to be as good as him. He was — and still is — such an idol of mine. Before the woman arrived, I thought I’d put my track shoes on and see if I could impress him. I ended up with a 5:21 mile … not my best work, but also not bad for someone who was basically in space the day before. Astronauts, feel free to have my back here.

I was eager to spend time with Dominique and Rachel since we didn’t have dates last week. Rachel and I had a strong connection from the night we met, so much so that I’d given her my first impression rose. Dominique was a woman I was intrigued by, but we just hadn’t had the chance to develop a strong connection yet. I was looking forward to spending time with Dominique and seeing her personality come through on this date.

From limo long jumps, to the cupid javelin, this track and field date was over the top. Who else can say that Olympic athletes paved the way to a hot tub prize? I’m not surprised Alexis, Rachel and Astrid made it to the final competition: the dash. They had excelled in not only their athletic chops, but had been so much fun throughout the day. When the horn blew, it took no time at all for Rachel to leave the Alexis and Astrid in her dust. But did this race take a turn or what. In the moment, that ring drop happened so fast! We all knew Rachel was technically the winner, but props to Astrid for getting her hands on that diamond. As much as I wanted to spend extra time with all the women, it was awesome to have this moment with Astrid. I also felt terrible because what you didn’t see, was the ring shattering when Astrid picked it up from the track. Her hand was cut up and bleeding all over the place, but she never lost her smile. After applying quite a few band aids, she got into the hot tub but had to keep her hand out of the chlorine so it wouldn’t sting. Talk about a badass.

Heading into the after party there was one woman I couldn’t get off my mind, Dominique. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t get out of her own head. I felt terrible that Dominique questioned herself and how amazing she is. I could see something the night we met, I saw a spark there – but once we sat down, I just didn’t see it any longer. This environment doesn’t work for everyone, and I felt in that moment that Dominique would never be able to be her best self in this journey. I didn’t need more time to think about it, and I didn’t want to take her into another rose ceremony if I already knew what I was going to do. Saying goodbye to Dominique was sad, but I knew it was the right choice for us both.

While saying goodbye to Dominique was a low moment in the evening, it had still been full of many highs. Astrid and I kept the spark going, and I’m not just talking about that bling ring. Alexis had me laughing all night when she revealed that she had taken the giant embarrassing print out of myself. By the time Rachel and I spoke, we seemed to just seamlessly pick up right where we left off from the first night. That was something I really loved about Rachel that day. We didn’t have a date the week prior, but she jumped into the day with confidence that absolutely captured me.  I felt like we had strong chemistry that day, and once we had alone time that evening, it was clear to me who I wanted to give the group date rose to.

I woke up the morning of the rose ceremony and knew I needed to shake things up a bit. I didn’t regret sending Dominique home the night before, but it certainly reminded me of how much pressure these women must be feeling, especially since it was still the first few weeks of starting this journey. I decided that a pool party was the best choice to get to know these women in a more natural setting without the pressure of a cocktail party. I was also interested in showing off my BBQ skills because if I might be so bold to admit it, I am a true master at the grill.

As the beautiful Alexis stated, “Seventeen girls, one pool party, one Nick … let’s see what happens” — and sure enough, there was a lot to see. It was awesome just how hyped up the women were for the pool party. We had the BBQ going, pool floats and something you guys didn’t see, an impromptu dance party. When Corinne pulled me into the bounce castle, I honestly didn’t expect it to become the controversy it did. By then, Corinne had proven herself to be a woman who was always thinking of a unique way to get my attention. It didn’t surprise me that she would want to pull me aside to do something different. After a few minutes of jumping around and kissing, I felt like it was time to go back to the party. The chemistry between us was strong, but there were so many other qualities that drew me to her. When the other women started to question her, and then question me — it was hard to answer. I stand by Corinne and her confidence. During my time on Andi’s season and Kaitlyn’s season, I too was questioned constantly. I appreciated Corinne for always putting us first. But when Vanessa started to question me, I stepped back and had to think about it. Were my actions contradicting what I was here for? Was I being unfairly called out? I had so much respect for all the women and I’ve always respected someone who challenges me. I honestly felt sick because I wanted to be fair, but follow my heart. Could I do both?

Next week you’ll see how things go down with Vanessa and I, as well as the rest of the women. I know the decisions I make can’t please everyone. The pool party didn’t exactly end on the note I wanted, so timing couldn’t have been better to hit the road and start traveling.  The first stop next week is huge for me and my relationships as we head to my hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin. I don’t think any of the women expected to meet my family this soon. All I can say is things get pretty serious, and the drama never stops. The cocktail party becomes a setting for a major blow up between women where shots get fired. My chemistry with these ladies isn’t the only thing heating up — tensions are really starting to run high. You won’t want to miss it.

Thanks for reading,
Nick

People.com

Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 3

It’s good to have you back, Bachelor Nation! Last week ended in dramatic style, with Nick telling the women about his past with Liz. This week was even more dramatic — but before we get into it, let me share some of my thoughts on how Nick handled the Liz situation. I think Nick was in a very tricky predicament, and considering how things played out, I’m not sure he could have handled it any better. In some ways, Christen was very helpful in this whole situation. If she hadn’t been honest with Nick about what Liz had told her, Nick may have found himself less willing to tell the women the full truth without revealing things about Liz that he did not feel were his place to reveal. Luckily, everything worked out. Liz got her answer about a potential future with Nick, and Nick got to usher in a phase of total and complete honesty with the rest of the women.

Sometimes it’s hard to break down that barrier, but as you saw, a lot of the questions that women had about Nick were put to rest during the cocktail party. Speaking of rest, Corinne is the first woman in history to sleep through a rose ceremony. Corinne is so fascinating to me. She is unapologetically herself, and while that makes her so refreshing, it makes sense why the rest of the women in the house found her actions disconcerting. Being on The Bachelor is a difficult situation for all involved. Even the mildest provocation can have dire consequences. This is only the beginning of Corinne’s journey, but I guarantee you will see her differently in a few weeks.

The first date of the week was spectacular. We fulfilled the teenage wishes of every woman in that house, as well as pretty much every crew member on staff. What could be cooler than a private concert by the Backstreet Boys in your living room? Only getting to dance with them on stage, I guess. I want to thank them for their generosity with their time and for sharing the stage with Nick and the ladies. It was a dream come true.

That night we really got to see Nick’s romance with Danielle L start to blossom. They had quite a connection during the day, but at night, they took a big set forward. That night also prompted what we will call NannyGate. Corinne’s Nanny. What do we think? I would like to have a nanny; it sounds very relaxing. But a lot of the women didn’t find the idea of a grown woman having a nanny so charming. Again, this is only the beginning of NannyGate, and I’m excited to see what unfolds.

This week was not short on incredible dates. Vanessa got the second one-on-one of the season and it was truly insane. The Zero-G plane is an experience like no other. Because of the close quarters we were only able to send a handful of crew members up there, and we had to use smaller, more compact cameras than ever to capture this date perfectly. After the first few minutes went so well and were so magical, Vanessa got sick and Nick was quick to comfort her. Sometimes the unplanned parts of dates are the best. Half of our crew got motion sickness as well, by the way. But that’s all part of the fun for a once in a lifetime experience.

Our final date of the week was a track and field date with Carl Lewis, Allyson Felix, and Michelle Carter. These three Olympic gold medalists were some of the nicest and most charismatic guests we’ve ever had. Nick ran track in high school, so this date was right in his wheelhouse. The women had an especially good time too, except for Dominique. Unfortunately, Dominique let the competition get the better of her, and she forgot that you have to run your own race and not always look at your competitors. She’s a wonderful woman and I’m glad that she and Nick parted ways with mutual respect and admiration for each other.

As is becoming tradition, Nick and the ladies replaced the formality of the evening cocktail party with the fun of a pool party. Casual atmospheres bring out a different side of people, and it’s important to see your potential life partner in all settings and all situations. Things obviously started off as fun, but the women quickly began to hone in on Corinne, and they are starting to question Nick’s decision-making based on his relationship with Corinne. In Nick’s defense, he is only starting to get to know these women, and they are all very different — and as such, he is right to try to think of every relationship individually.

After her one-on-one date, Vanessa was especially concerned about Nick’s feelings for Corinne, and as we leave you until next week, Vanessa is weighing her own feelings about Nick and the whole situation. At this point, only time will tell. We hope you enjoyed this week — and we really hope you enjoyed Josephine’s song. She is truly one of the most wonderfully interesting women we’ve met in recent memory, and moments like that really make us all enjoy the work we do trying to find love for people in a unique setting.

See you next week!

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Nick Viall on 'Disappointing' Corinne Questions & Which Bachelor Lady He Can't Stop Thinking About
BY NICK VIALL  @VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON JANUARY 24, 2017 AT 10:24AM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!

Hey guys, so we’re back this week and coming off a pretty honest conversation with Vanessa. The pool party had been going great, but clearly took a turn when the women saw Corinne and me in the bounce castle.

It is disappointing to hear so many of the women question Corinne. I’ve been in Corinne’s shoes before so maybe that is why I’m more sensitive to it. I’ve said it before, but Corinne is always putting us first … and just because she’s not always thinking about the other women, doesn’t necessarily make her a bad person. However, I am dating these women and I respect the fact that some of them felt uncomfortable for seeing Corinne and me more intimate in the bounce castle than they would have liked. I would never have intentionally put that in the women’s faces like that. I thought it was a more private moment, and I do regret the effect it had.

Moving forward, I became a lot more sensitive to that, I wanted to make sure that the women knew I understood where they came from. I appreciated Vanessa for taking me aside and speaking her mind and bringing up her concerns. But at the end of the day, I need to be able to make my own decisions on what I feel is right for me — and that meant not sending Corinne home. I still felt a strong connection with Corinne and I wasn’t going to let the women’s personal relationships skew my relationship with her.

Hometown Visit
TIME FOR A CHANGE! Am I right?!

I know how the first few weeks in the mansion can feel like a hundred years. With tensions running high, it was perfect timing to start traveling. We were all packed up and ready to head south for our first destination. But the day before we traveled, Hurricane Matthew came in and we had 24 hours to reroute. I couldn’t think of a better plan B than to head to my hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

I was thrilled to share my roots with the women. It’s been over 10 years since I’ve lived in Wisconsin, but it’ll always feel like home to me. The leaves had just started turning colors and it was the perfect time in fall to visit. It was important to me that the women experienced Wisconsin in the best way possible, so I made sure that they had a house off of one of the lakes. Growing up, some of my best memories are visiting my grandparents who had a house on a lake not too far from Waukesha. It’s the best way to enjoy the natural beauty of my home state … well that and a cheese hat. Which, only those of you who watched Andi’s season will remember, I refused to copy this time around! NO MORE CHEESE HAT!

It was wonderful to catch my parents up to speed on how this whole journey had been going up until this point. My family has always been my biggest support. It was really touching to see my mom get emotional, and I think we all saw me choke up a little too. I know she just wants the best for me, and hopes that I find that lasting love. My parents are the biggest role models in my life, and if I find a woman that I can have a love like they have for one another, I’d be the luckiest man in the world.

Danielle L.
It was so surreal to see the women run up to me in my hometown. If only my high school self could have seen this coming, he would never have believed it. He would also be making fun of how tight men’s pants are these days, but whatever, I used to frost my hair. I think we all gain a bit of perspective with age. With the excitement of being back in Waukesha, I wanted to kick off the first date of the week right away. Danielle L. was someone who over the past few weeks I had felt a stronger and stronger connection with. I was looking forward to getting to know her better and continue that growing relationship.

Walking around Waukesha was super fun with Danielle. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was special to share stories about each other’s hometowns and pop in and out of the old spots. When we came across the bakery, I was dying! I mean on one hand it was awesome, I mean there is a cookie with my face on it. But on the other, I was embarrassed to be a one-man cookie. I couldn’t leave Danielle out of the equation, so it was awesome that they let us go in the back and design our own cookies. Talk about a small town hook-up perk — once you’re a local, you’re always a local.

Running into Amber was totally crazy, but then again, Waukesha is a pretty small town. So, it is only a matter of time before you run into exes, I suppose. We had always had a really good friendship after our split, so it was actually a really great surprise. I just hope Danielle didn’t feel totally awkward, but she was ready with questions! That’s what I like so much about Danielle, she just rolls with the punches in confidence and style.

After spending such an amazing day with Danielle and sharing so much about my past, I was eager to hear more about her. When Danielle opened up about her family and her parents’ divorce, it really struck a chord with me. It came as a shock to her and I know that must have been confusing for her at such a young age. Sitting with her that evening, I knew we wanted the same things, that when we find that person we want to spend the rest of our lives with, we want it to be a lasting love. I think in a way we both use our parents as an example of how we want our future to be.

Danielle really moved me on this date, the whole day had brought me back to thinking about my entire journey. Being in my hometown, thinking about first kisses, dates to dances and teenage breakups. It felt really good to be with a woman I could see such an amazing future with, who also made everything in my past make sense, because I was sitting with her. Ending our night with the Chris Lane concert was just the final touch to what was already an amazing day. The energy from the crowd was electric and made me proud to be from Milwaukee.  

Group Farm Date
Now, I might be from Wisconsin, but I’m hardly what you call farm savvy. I will say, I love the outdoors and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. Wisconsin is all about their dairy farms, and today I wanted to see who would milk the situation and who would have a cow.

With Corrine on the group date, I was worried there could be some tension lingering with the other girls, but I didn’t want to focus on that. I just wanted everyone to enjoy the date. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think this day could turn into an udder failure. For a date full of shoveling cow poop these ladies rocked it. I mean Josephine wore WHITE JEANS to the farm, and I’m pretty sure she was the first to dive in. I was crazy impressed to see the women boot-up and get their hands dirty. Having Jaimi school me on milking the cow was also hilarious. I know it looks like I was only trying for a few seconds, but in reality I had been trying to milk the cow for what felt like an eternity. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses.

One of the funniest moments of the day that you didn’t see was a little something we called, the cheese roll. Picture this: All of us on top of the hill with farmer Charlie holding a wheel of cheese. Charlie tossed the cheese down the hill, and the second the cheese was tossed, it was a race to the cheese. I mean, I’ve never seen girls move faster in my life. Kristina made it to the cheese first and the other girls victoriously cheered around her. It was seriously the funniest and weirdest moment of the day and Kristina continued to snack on the cheese for the rest of the date.

Kristina
Heading into the evening, I was looking forward to cleaning up and trading in the milk for a cocktail. But really,  I was looking forward to seeing how the women enjoyed the day and continue to grow my relationships. I was so blown away by the book that Vanessa gave me. It was clear that her students and coworkers care so much for her, this gesture was very sweet. Flipping through the book, there were photos from school, events, and they even added family stuff too. It gave me such an inside view into her life, and I appreciated it so much.

Kristina is a woman I’ve been intrigued by from the start of this journey. The first night we met, we never actually spoke after our introduction. But she lit up during the group date that week and I felt an immediate spark. There is a quiet confidence that Kristina possesses. When I’m around her, I feel like our connection is authentic and exciting. I walked away from our conversation knowing I needed more time to hear about her life, especially what she specifically wanted to share. I wanted to make sure Kristina knew how serious I was about our potential and so that is why I wanted to give her the rose. I walked away from that evening feeling really great about what was starting to blossom between us.

Raven
My date with Raven was something I was looking forward to all week. I felt like this date was the closest thing to what a real weekend with my future wife could be like. I was a little nervous introducing Bella and my parents to Raven. I knew that my family would absolutely love Raven and embrace her with open arms. I was nervous about Raven feeling like I put the pressure on her and that there would be a chance that she would get into her head. But all of that was melted away the second we hit the field. Raven not only jumped into the action with the girls on the team, but she couldn’t have been more of her charming and amazing self with my entire family. I mean, she asked about spanking!

Skating was by far a highlight for me. I must admit, I couldn’t wait to impress Raven with my skills. Not many people know this, well if you watched the episode you do now, but I am a grade-A roller skater. I might be bold enough to say, I am like the Michelle Kwan of wheels. With Raven by my side and skating to “Kiss Me,” it could not have been a more perfect ending to a day.

When Raven opened up about her last relationship, I felt like I understood her so much more. I too have been cheated on, and I feel like we could relate on how it made us question ourselves. But we both came out of it building up our self-worth. Hearing Raven reflect on how her past made her stronger was very attractive. I know it took a lot of courage to tell that story. I never condone physical violence, but I can’t imagine being a woman put in that situation. I’d known for a while that Raven had a good heart, but that night I learned she is feisty and full of so much more power than I’d ever imagined. When I went to sleep that night and thought about our date, I was so excited about our future. Raven is a woman who would make a fierce partner and her confidence in herself is what I desire most in someone who could be my wife.

Cocktail Party
I was looking forward to the cocktail party. There is always a looming sense of grey during cocktail parties because they’re followed by a rose ceremony, but it does allow us all to spend more time together.

It was disappointing to hear some of the women give Danielle L. a hard time about pulling me first. I know she already had a rose, but in this environment, putting your own relationship first is key. I did the same thing during Kaitlyn and Andi’s seasons, and I don’t think pulling first like that should hold so much negative weight. I celebrate bold moves, and I felt like it was great that Danielle pulled me. We came off such a high from our date, and I fully support wanting to end the week on high.

Now, this cocktail party took a fast turn. It’s hard for me to comment on the Corinne and Taylor fight … yet. Trust me, this argument picks up pace and continues into next week. It’s important for me to make sure that we all hear both sides of the FULL argument before talking about it. What we saw here is just the start of what becomes a full on blowout. You’ll have to tune in next week to see how not only Corinne and Taylor hash out their differences — but how I handle their feud as well.

But this fight doesn’t just stop at the rose ceremony, I decided to put all our relationships to the test and have a two-on-one date with them. Believe me, what happens on the two-on-one next week will shock you — it certainly shocked me.

Thanks for reading,
Nick

People.com

Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 4

Welcome back, Bachelor Nation! It’s only been four weeks and it’s becoming obvious that the drama that has been stirred up so far isn’t going away anytime soon. Corinne and Taylor are just getting started, but before we get into that, let’s take a look back at this very exciting episode.

Vanessa laid down the law when it came to how she felt Nick should deal with Corinne, but Nick followed his heart and decided to give Corinne a rose. Just as soon as it seemed the Bachelor mansion was going to explode, Nick and his ladies hit the road and headed east to Waukesha, Wis.

Nick is known for a lot of things, but people often forget how much of a family man he really is. Ten siblings and two very devoted parents make up part of what made Nick the man he is today, and it was really important for Nick to sit down and spend some time with his parents, who have been there for him through the ups and downs of his journey through The Bachelorette, twice. You can also see where Nick gets his emotional side when you watch his mother talk to him.

The first date of the week was a walk down memory lane for Nick. Nick and Danielle L. ran into an ex, made some cookies, and went to the hill where Nick may or may not have lost his virginity. Weirdly, I think this is a perfect first date. Getting to know someone is easier when you get to know their past. Danielle got to do some of that and then also got to make some great memories with him as they danced to Chris Lane in one of the most beautiful theaters in Milwaukee. After a group date rose last week and a rose in Milwaukee, Danielle L. is clearly emerging as a frontrunner.

The group date was truly wonderful and bizarre. Sure, Nick isn’t a dairy farmer and this will not be a big part of his life, but there’s something to be said for rolling up your sleeves and just digging in, so to speak. Corinne, in her usual fashion, found a way to stand out. The women’s frustration with Corinne definitely started to boil over, but Corinne took a step in the right direction in trying to find some middle ground with the women that night. Some of the women seemed to feel like some of the “crap” they had shoveled that day had followed them into the night, but it seems like the tension between Corinne and the other women is taking a backseat to the brewing tension between Corinne and Taylor.

Before we get to the fight heard ’round the world, Raven was the lucky woman to get the second one on one date of the week. It was a pretty special one. We first met Bella, Nick’s sister, on his hometown date a few years ago. She’s all grown up and taking her soccer seriously. Honestly, this was a high-pressure date for Raven. Meeting the parents and meeting the sister is a big deal, but she handled herself with poise and grace. And she maintained that grace and poise as they glided around the Milwaukee Art Museum. I can’t believe they let them do that! Milwaukee really opened its doors to The Bachelor, and we really appreciate it.

The cocktail party the next night was set to be tense, as there are fewer and fewer women, but no one could have predicted what that night would bring. Corinne, hearing the rumblings around the house, decided to confront Taylor, and, well, we only saw the very beginning of it. Lines in the house are being drawn. Are you Team Taylor or Team Corinne? Let me know, and we’ll talk about it next week when The Bachelor continues.

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Nick Viall on the Bachelor Moment He Considered a 'Fiasco' — It Might Not Be What You Expect!

BY NICK VIALL•@VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON JANUARY 31, 2017 AT 10:38AM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!  

Hey guys! We’re back where we left off with Corinne and Taylor confronting one another at the rose ceremony. To back up a little, let me just state the obvious: This is an environment that is filled with all personality types, so of course it is unrealistic that everyone will get along. It’s clear when watching Corinne and Taylor, that just happens to be the case.

At the time, I never knew their issues with one another was this intense, but of course I was aware of tension. I knew that Corinne’s assertiveness and occasional napping had rubbed some of the other women the wrong way. I was also aware that Taylor is a person who will confidently state her opinion, personal and professional.

Up until this point, Corinne had not wasted any of her energy focusing on how the other women were approaching this environment — while Taylor had seemed to critique Corinne’s every move determining whether Corinne had a right to be here. I didn’t know much at the time, but I did know that with two polarizing personalities, sometimes more comes to the surface if it’s all there right in front of you. While yes, I had questions about these women, I was still very intrigued by them.

Corinne is a woman full of life, and as she states herself, color. I love how assertive she is, and I admire the confidence that she has even under pressure. She never seems to lose sight of who she is. Taylor is a woman who is undeniably impressive. It’s attractive how successful and driven she is in her career, all of which she worked hard for. It’s interesting, for a woman who carries herself like Taylor, to allow herself to open up emotionally. And like Corinne, she is a woman who stands by who she is and what she wants in life. I decided then that a two-on-one date would be the best to navigate these relationships.

New Orleans
Wisconsin had been amazing to share with these women, but it was time to keep moving. Leaving a place I still call home was bittersweet, but I was pretty excited to be heading somewhere I’d never been before: New Orleans. The second I reached New Orleans it felt unlike any other city I’ve ever visited. The unique culture of this beautiful and lively city hits you all at once. The architecture, food, music and people — all full of life. I was excited to kick things off right away and explore this city.

Rachel
Choosing Rachel for my one-on-one this week was easy. From the very first night we’d had an instant connection and chemistry. Over the past few weeks I felt like we had built something special and this was a date that I felt could really push our relationship forward. This day was pretty much all about exploring New Orleans together, and it felt like something we would do as a couple outside of this world. Of course, helicopters and yachts are romantic and unbelievable experiences — but there is something about just walking through a city with no real plan that makes a bond so much greater. It was also pretty cool that Rachel had just been to New Orleans, so she was giving me the inside scoop on these new experiences for me.

From eating the most delicious beignets to dancing in the streets and listening to some amazing live music, my date with Rachel couldn’t have been more fun. I also have to admit that those beignets were highly addicting. They should really warn you because I didn’t play it cool at all. I think I may have eaten five or six, I can’t lie. But OMG were they worth it. Thinking about it now, I could probably toss back another dozen.

Also, what you guys didn’t see was the show we stopped into. Lolo, is this really cool artist that has an unbelievable voice and stage presence. Not to brag, but I think Rachel and I tore up that dance floor and Lolo loved us! But with Rachel on my arm, who wouldn’t? Am I right? But honestly, I ended up downloading a bunch of Lolo’s music later that day and playing it for Rachel that night as a surprise.

As yummy as the treats were — and Lolo was also really cool, I have to say that the second line was by far the coolest part of our day. What a welcoming feeling, to have a city open their arms to anybody in such a joyous way. This tradition is something that I’d never seen in any city in my life. The music, the energy and the sense of community was intoxicating. I remember feeling such a high this day and reflecting on my decision to give her the first impression rose the night we met. I was reminded of how confident I felt about her then, but on this day, also so confident in what was to come.

The energy of our day carried into the evening. The location where we had dinner was so cool, I wish you guys could have seen more of it. This place is the home to hundreds of Mardi Gras floats that range from traditional to absolute insane. We started the evening off running around like kids playing hide and seek, and stealing a few kisses in private away from the eyes of the floats.

It was really moving when Rachel opened up about the reason she had just visited New Orleans not that long ago. It is tragic to lose someone close, but having that reminder to take advantage of every opportunity that life gives you. Rachel is someone who in the past, had expressed how it was hard for her to open up, but that evening we connected more than we ever had before. I couldn’t help but feel this desire to let Rachel know just how excited I was about our relationship — I was crazy about her! Moments like this can be few and far between and I didn’t want to waste the momentum that we had.

Rachel has a way of allowing herself to be vulnerable without losing confidence or questioning herself. By the time our evening ended, I had almost forgotten that there was a rose on the table, but there was no doubt that I was giving it to her, and there was no doubt that I was starting to feel like this relationship had a big future.

New Orleans Group Date
When you’re on the road it can feel like your routine is a little off. So, the morning before the group date, I challenged Chris Harrison to a run. We don’t actually see each other that much during filming, so it’s nice when we can find a quiet moment to catch up. We thought it would be more fun to run through the city than the gym. I mean it was a beautiful day and New Orleans is amazing, so why wouldn’t we want to explore? Four or so miles later, I think we were both ready to drop dead… not so much because we weren’t used to running a few miles a day, but we ended up getting a little lost. We had to backtrack and it ended up being a little more of a fiasco than expected. But all in all, I was able to get my workout in and see a little more of the city then I had anticipated!

For the group date, we drove outside the city to one of the most beautiful estates in Louisiana. This was a date I’d been looking forward to for a while. Not only was I excited to see the women who I hadn’t seen since Wisconsin, but I absolutely love history. Knowing how much history was connected to this place, I was excited to explore. Now, I wouldn’t exactly file ghost history in with the usual historical interests of mine, but this place was something else. I’m not the most superstitious person, but I thought it was be fun to do some ghost hunting. I figured if there was ever a place to encounter ghost activity, it would be here.

This place was beautiful, but I have to be honest, it really did get creepy once the sun set. There was some crazy inexplicable stuff happening that night! I mean, come on Jasmine, you should never have touched the hat or the statue! But actually … Jasmine, much like me, went into the evening not quite believing in Mae’s ghost, but I think I can speak for both of us and say that by the time we left, we certainly had a different opinion. I really loved how seriously Vanessa and Jaimi took the evening. Jaimi was nothing but courteous regarding the spirits around her and I respected that. Whereas Vanessa was afraid, ok no, lets be real — terrified, but still took the evening in stride and ended up finding peace with the spirits and the experience enjoyable. This evening could have been a total disaster, but it was like a fun spooky night at summer camp and we all had a blast.

One thing I think that we’ve all seriously enjoyed was finding out that Alexis is terrified of Nicolas Cage, the actor. Alexis had admitted this fear the week before in Wisconsin. So naturally, I immediately went on Amazon and ordered a Nicholas Cage mask. You guys have no idea how much I had looked forward to this moment. Knowing this spooky date was coming up it was the PERFECT time to strike, but I can’t believe when I went to surprise her she felt it coming! It was still totally hilarious, and I think that I may have a small part of helping reduce this fear of hers.

Even though there was a lot of scary things happening that evening, I was able to still get quality time with the women. It had been a week since my date with Danielle L. and it was really great to sit down with her and reconnect. I had such an amazing day with her in Wisconsin, and it was important to me that we still had that spark. After such a great date, I decided to give the rose to Danielle M. Getting the first one-on-one is a great feeling at the time, but it can also be hard as weeks pass. But Danielle was someone I had already connected with, and that evening I had felt like we were still right where we were that first date. I wanted to make sure she knew I still felt that way and was confident in us.

The Dreaded Two-on-One
Now, what I know you guys have all been waiting for ….

Coming off last week, I knew tensions were boiling over between Corinne and Taylor. And as I said before, sometimes taking two polarizing personalities can help navigate my feelings for each person. A two-on-one can be awkward — actually, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be. But I thought it would be the best way to figure out which relationship had potential and which one would be best to say goodbye to.

My relationship with Taylor and Corinne at this point, while different, were probably equal in terms of how far we had progressed. There were things about both women that intrigued me, but also plenty I still had questions about. I had never been to the bayou before, but man, how fitting was it for this date.

I reminded myself going into this date that there are two sides to every story. When Corinne shared her side of the story with me about Taylor, I was shocked. I wasn’t going to fully ingest the information until I spoke with Taylor, but it was still disappointing to hear. Once I sat with Taylor, it became more clear what the issues were about.

When you strip it down, it became clear that Taylor believed Corinne lacked the emotional maturity to get married or really to be dating me at all. Listening to Taylor talk, it became obvious to me that Taylor didn’t realize that she was guilty of the same thing she saw in Corinne. Like Corinne said, Taylor was telling Corinne that she didn’t call her stupid while implying that she was stupid. You can say a lot of things to someone while being pretty clear between the lines.

From my point of view, Taylor either wasn’t self-aware enough to understand how she was coming across or she thought that I wouldn’t notice. Either way, it just felt like at this point that Taylor was too fixated on proving to me that Corinne wasn’t right for me rather than focusing on our relationship. Giving Corinne the rose had just as much to do with saying goodbye to Taylor as it was to validate my relationship with Corinne. After a pretty intense day, I was looking forward to some one-on-one time with Corinne.

I was totally caught off guard when Taylor showed up at dinner to interrupt Corinne and me. What was she there for? Did she want to come back? Did she have more to say to Corinne? Was there something else I didn’t know? A million questions flooded my brain. Saying goodbye is never easy, but having someone come back unexpectedly is no cake walk either. Taylor certainly isn’t saying goodbye without a fight. I think you’ll be interested in what Taylor has to say and how I take it. But that is just the beginning.

Next week the drama heats up as the women and I travel to St. Thomas. There I’m faced with shocking truths and unexpected goodbyes. I find myself questioning, can this journey lead to a happy conclusion? Next week you’ll see how it all goes down.

People.com

Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 5

Welcome back, Bachelor Nation. I think tonight we saw the most anticipated and dramatic two-on-one date in Bachelor history. And the best part about it is it’s not over yet. I can’t remember seeing anyone more surprised to be sent home on a two-on-one than Taylor, and Taylor is not about to take things lying down. As we saw, Taylor still has more to say, and she outright refused to leave New Orleans without being heard. Before we get into next week, let’s talk about New Orleans.

You didn’t get a chance to see it, but Nick and I sat down when he got to New Orleans, and we discussed the two-on-one date. Obviously, it’s a very difficult thing to have to go through for any Bachelor or Bachelorette, but sometimes the best way to figure out what you want is to apply pressure to yourself. At this point, Nick knows that the girls have strong feelings about Corinne, and Taylor has certainly been the most outspoken between them. Another thing we talked about is how serious his feelings were becoming.


'Bachelor' Contestants Battle for Love in the Bayou
On Monday's The Bachelor, Corinne and Taylor continued their fight over Nick. Taylor, who has a master's degree in mental health counseling, accused Corinne of not having the emotional intelligence to marry Nick. Corinne responded, "I'm intelligent in my own way. I'm people smart. It's really sad that you can't read, you know, other signs of intelligency. Is intelligency a word?" The two were pitted against each other during a two-on-one date to the bayou with Nick. They avoided alligators but couldn't avoid fighting. Corinne complained to Nick that Taylor bullied her. Taylor said, "If she gets the rose, that is how she's getting it, through just pure manipulation. And that's not even the way you want to build a relationship with someone!" However, the trick worked and Nick sent Taylor home. The episode ended with Taylor interrupting the rest of Nick and Corinne's date for a final word.

It had been quite some time since Rachel, who got the first impression rose, had any serious quality time with Nick. It was Nick’s first time in New Orleans, and there was no better tour guide for him than Rachel. Even though Nick took the lead on the date, Rachel really helped him relax and have a good time. In this very pressure-filled week, Rachel was exactly what he needed to keep his journey to falling in love on course. A concert by Lolo at Preservation Hall and a second line in the French Quarter really got this week started right. The chemistry between the two of them is undeniable, and Nick let Rachel know that he feels like she is going to be in his life for a very long time. I hope those promises don’t come back to haunt him.

Speaking of haunting — and corny — segues, the haunted date at Houmas House was truly scary. People from all over the world flock to the area to get legitimately spooked, but almost no one gets to stay overnight. I’m not sure if that makes Nick and the ladies lucky or unlucky, but the ghost of Mae definitely noticed that there were new energies in the house. Jasmine should definitely not have touched Mae’s hat, and that seemed to really set off a chain of bizarre events. We’ll never know what was imagined and what was real, but we do now that everyone had a great time that night. Spookiness and scares aside, all the women had a good amount of one-on-one time with Nick to further their relationships.

The dreaded two-on-one took place in the bayou, and it felt extremely fitting. Corinne played the game like a football coach, making her best defense an offense. She felt attacked by Taylor at the cocktail party in Wisconsin, and she led her time with Nick letting him know that she was afraid he was giving too much time and attention to a “bully.” Taylor, who obviously was totally taken aback by the accusations, seemed more bewildered than anything. It threw her off so much she didn’t even really have time to get her act together and explain her side of the story. Nick had to follow his heart and give a rose to someone, and he gave it to Corinne. Taylor did not take it well. Next week, we’ll see exactly what she has to say to Nick.

Get ready for a mind-blowing conclusion to this story and even more surprises next week on The Bachelor.

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The Bachelor's Nick Viall Reveals Which of Three Mid-Date Eliminations Left Him 'Instantly Heartbroken'
BY NICK VIALL•@VIALLNICHOLAS28

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 7, 2017 AT 1:22PM EST

He was devastated twice on The Bachelorette and had a summer fling on Bachelor in Paradise, and now Nick Viall is looking to find a love that lasts as The Bachelor‘s latest leading man. Read his exclusive blog for PEOPLE every week and follow him at Twitter, @viallnicholas28!  

Hey guys, we’re back this week, and, well, so is Taylor.

Last week we watched as I decided to bring Taylor and Corinne on a two-on-one date. Things certainly heated up in the Bayou between the women, and what started out as positive voodoo vibes turned negative pretty quickly. But for me, I just wanted to keep my attention to the relationships I had with them individually. I have the upmost respect for Taylor, and I really enjoyed the moments we had shared during this journey. But inevitably I didn’t think that we were a good match.

When Taylor came back, I was shocked. I wasn’t sure what to expect. While I didn’t feel like we covered anything totally new, I was happy she took the chance to leave everything on the table. I don’t have any regrets with Taylor — and I hope she doesn’t either.

After my two-on-one there was a lot on my mind heading into the rose ceremony. There was something telling me that I knew what I needed to do. So I canceled the cocktail party. I told myself going into this that when I knew it was time to say goodbye I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time. Josephine, Alexis and Jaimi are three women who I had grown to really care for and love to be around. I just felt like there wasn’t enough of an emotional connection building. I wish nothing but amazing things for those women, and I truly believe that for Alexis there is an aquatic counterpart out there just waiting for her to swim into his heart. Who knows, maybe in Paradise?

New Orleans had been amazing, but it was time to move on! So I packed my bags, picked up a dozen beignets for the road and headed to St. Thomas! But really, on the wait to the airport we 100 percent did stop by Café du Monde for one [cough] okay two [cough] bags of beignets. I don’t think I was through security before I had finished at least five.

Arriving in St. Thomas was like a tropical dream. The weather was unbelievable, the locals were awesome and picking up my date in town via seaplane wasn’t too shabby either. I will say, if you are planning a seaplane expedition anytime soon I urge you to brace yourselves. More wind means more choppy water and the landing … well, let’s just say a cushioned seat would have been welcomed with open arms.

Picking Kristina for the one-on-one felt long overdue. For some time now Kristina and I built a strong connection, but I had been waiting for the right date to have that extra time with her. I knew there was more to her that she had not yet shared with me. I was eager to spent this time with such a beautiful and charming woman.

After a fun afternoon, I felt like our connection grew so much deeper then I anticipated. Kristina is easy to be around, she is funny and charming and more than intriguing. What you didn’t see was more of Kristina teaching me Russian, and man was it sexy. It was hard to concentrate because I just wanted to hear her speak it, not myself!

Sitting over dinner with Kristina I wanted to know more about her past and what brought her to America. When she opened up about her family and leaving Russia for a better life, she really floored me. I couldn’t believe how much she had been through in life. I developed a new admiration for this strong and resilient woman. I was touched with how open she was with me, and her story put so much into perspective. I think this journey helps people focus on what they want and need in their life, and Kristina is someone I could see a real future with.

I woke up the morning of the group date on such a high from my one-on-one with Kristina. I felt like this week had started out perfectly, what could go wrong? Being so many weeks in, of course it is no secret that time becomes more and more valuable. The tension that comes with group dates gets stronger, and people start to get anxious. I know at this time during Andi and Kaitlyn’s season I certainly started to get stir crazy. So, planning a fun beach day seemed like it would be the perfect date. There were drinks, games and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I felt like things were off to a good start, but it became clear quickly that nobody cared for the volleyball.

I felt terrible for how emotional the women became during the date. I know for people like Vanessa and Danielle M. it’s hard because they had such early one-on-ones. Did they feel like our connection was slipping? Or Jasmine, who I hadn’t yet had any one on one time with? Of course I wanted that time, but I also wanted to enjoy whatever time we did share together in the best way possible. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going wrong. Was it me? Was it the date? Was it really just reality sinking in that things were starting to get serious? All I knew was that I wanted to make it clear that these women were important to me and hopefully turn the evening into a better time.

I was optimistic about turning the date around, and so I walked into the evening excited to spend time with all the women. I was still feeling a little anxious about the day, but it was Raven who put me at ease. Raven is always like a breath of fresh air. She has this presence about her that immediately calms me while still feeling excited. I felt like we had made huge strides in our relationship back in Wisconsin, and this was an evening that made me confident that we were only getting stronger.

Rachel, on the other hand, was someone I had just come of a phenomenal date with the week prior. I was a little nervous about why she wasn’t having a good day. I know it has to be hard coming back into a group date setting right off a one-on-one, but I thought that we had a secure enough connection to override any doubt. Even though we ended our conversation on a high note, I was worried that she was getting too into her head.

Now, let’s talk about Jasmine. Jasmine is a woman I was intrigued by since the first night we met. She is beautiful, outgoing and knows exactly what she wants. But throughout the journey I felt like she had been questioning herself and letting the environment into her head. I know how this world can be intimidating and can make you doubt yourself. I think that Jasmine was just forcing something that wasn’t coming naturally. I enjoyed her company, her wit and energy, but there was an emotional connection that wasn’t clicking. Once Jasmine told me how she felt, I knew I didn’t and wouldn’t feel the same in return.

It is a terrible feeling to have to say goodbye to someone who so badly wants to make it work. But I felt by keeping her, even until the rose ceremony would be giving her the wrong impression — and would be wasting her time. That night didn’t exactly end the way I had expected. All I wanted to do was get back on track and move past the emotional day, but it didn’t happen. That evening was the first time I had walked away from a group date feeling somewhat helpless and discouraged.

As if you thought one would be enough, I decided to have another two-on-one. The week in St. Thomas was already off to a mixed start, and even though we were about half way into the journey, I was thinking only about the future. While my two-on-one with Corinne and Taylor was totally different, I still felt like what I got out of the date was beneficial. I went into this date hoping to get the same gut feeling that guided me the last time. My thought process was, If I don’t see a strong connection now, then what can I build off of? I hadn’t had a one-on-one with Whitney yet, but I felt like a two-on-one would give us more time to see what was there between us. There had always been a spark, but I went into the date hoping it could grow into a bigger flame. Unfortunately, that just didn’t happen.

Whitney is a beautiful and kind person, but we just weren’t right for one another. Saying goodbye felt terrible. I know this is all a part of the process, but I had started to feel like I wasn’t connecting with anyone. Although saying goodbye to Whitney was hard, I still had Danielle. Danielle and I had a great one on one back in Wisconsin, but since then I felt like we lost some of our momentum. I felt good about the time we shared on the beach, but I felt like I wasn’t ready to hand out a rose yet. I decided that evening for us would be make or break.

Sitting with Danielle that evening, I can’t really put my finger on what felt off, but I just didn’t feel the same confidence as I did in Wisconsin. I had seen myself going to Danielle’s hometown, and maybe even further, but over the weeks that followed Wisconsin that started to slip away. I saw this evening as an opportunity to get back on track. It wasn’t until Danielle told me she loved me that I knew I couldn’t say the words back. I felt instantly heartbroken. Heartbroken over hurting this woman who allowed herself to be vulnerable … heartbroken because I had felt so confident a week prior.

Saying goodbye was very emotional for me. I was sad to see Danielle go, but I also felt a sense of doubt. Doubt that this might not actually work for me in the end. I decided to go talk to the women. I needed to be honest about where my head was. I owed it to them.

Tune in next week to see what I decide to do. I think you’ll all be a little shocked with the surprising decision I make … I know the women were.  

Thanks for reading,
Nick

People.com

Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 6

Welcome back, Bachelor Nation! It feels like it’s been forever since we witnessed the showdown in the swamp between Taylor and Corinne. But as we now know, that was not nearly the end of it. Taylor was not about to leave without saying everything she had to say, and while it didn’t change anything, I must commend her for trying to set the record (at least her side of things) straight. It’s easy to run for shelter when things don’t go your way, but it’s important to fight for what you think is right, and the end result is hardly the point.

Now Taylor is gone and Corinne continues on to try and win Nick’s heart. After a long week, and with his relationships growing, Nick decided to forego the cocktail party. Unfortunately, that also meant having some emotional goodbyes sooner than needed. But sometimes you just have to rip the band aid right off. Alexis, Jami, and Josephine will be sorely missed by Nick, and by all of us. They’re pretty great women and we look forward to seeing more of them.

New Orleans was great to us. We had some great oysters and beignets and coffee, but it was time to leave the US and head to a new beautiful island in the Caribbean, St. Thomas. We love visiting the Caribbean, and every island has its own diverse culture, food, and history. This was our first time visiting St. Thomas, and man are we glad we did. But being in a beautiful place with clear waters doesn’t always mean smooth sailing, and this week for Nick was anything but calm.

Before things took a turn for the worse, Nick got started with a pretty exceptional date with Kristina. Last week, they had a talk about wanting to get to know each other better but wanting a significant block of time to really talk, and that was the right decision. Kristina’s story is really heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. She is strong and brave, and she’s open for love in a way that makes you really want her to find it. She’s obviously off to a very good start with Nick.

After an amazing date, things really started to go downhill. Nick has had a pretty great journey so far, and his relationships have been growing, but as relationships get stronger, emotions tend to run more wild and things can get a little out of hand. What started off as a fun volleyball game and some drinks on the beach quickly turned into a giant storm, and it felt like Nick was at the eye of it all. You saw what happened, but as the night went on, things really boiled over and Jasmine, who has had a fun and light relationship with Nick all the way through, was sent home in the blink of an eye.

What seemed like a pebble quickly turned into a landslide as the two-on-one date the next day really put Nick to the test. Whitney is really wonderful, and though you haven’t seen much of it, she and Nick had a pretty great relationship — even though it wasn’t exactly the deepest. Saying goodbye to her wasn’t easy, but there was obviously the hope Nick had in his relationship with Danielle L. made it seem like things would finally take a turn for the better.

But things didn’t get any better. Things used to be much simpler for Nick and Danielle. The first night it was unbelievably clear that Danielle and Nick had something special. The Backstreet Boys date earned her a group rose and made her as clear and strong front runner, and their date in Waukesha was so electric it felt as if they might even be the couple together in the end. But something obviously went wrong, and Nick knew in his heart that even though he really liked Danielle, he wasn’t going to end up marrying her, and he said goodbye.

Nick has been down this road before. He’s allowed himself to fall in love and had the rug pulled out from under him. Twice. Understandably, Nick is scared. He’s incredibly worried that he’s going to make a poor decision and ruin what may be his last chance at love. Will he? We’ll find out more next week.

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