I've been hornswoggled for the last time.

I'm trying to remember life before reality . . . shows that is. Sitcoms were king (at least in my book) and dramas were my queeen. Especially Knots Landing back in the olden days along with Dynasty and Dallas. Now it's Gray's Anatomy and The Office but we're onto another subject.

Yes I suppose American Idol is my fave but since Tracy has already talked about it I won't go on and on. I watch it mainly because I love music, and after working in that business for over 20 years I feel like I kinda sorta have a good idea about what's good and what's not. It remains to be seen if I'll watch it next year. I'm a Paula fan. She provided a necessary balance in the judging.

I can't believe I'm about to admit this to the world, but The Bachelor USED to be my reality show obsession. I'm using past tense here because I finally banged the gavel after last season. When the dude from Seattle with the little boy dumped the girl only a few weeks after he proposed on a cliff in New Zealand I was D.O.N.E. He had me completely believing that he truly had fallen for her . . . you know the brunette - was her name Melissa? - and that she would be the perfect step-mom. When they all jumped in the pool together I was right there with them, so happy for the little boy and the couple. But when "After the Bachelor" or "After the Final Rose" (whatever they call it) aired I realized right then and there that I had been hornswoggled. I turned off the TV and swore I'd never let it happen again. I can't help but wonder if the producers had it planned all along that Jason would go back to the runner-up. All in the name of ratings!?! Poor Melissa.

I never meant to start watching The Bachelor in the first place. Seriously I didn't. But when it's a Monday night with not much to do, I'll start flipping through the channels. For some reason it never failed to be the opening night of the show. I'd see the bachelors or bachelorettes stepping out of the limo and was instantly hooked. And by the time they were toasting the days to come in the mansion I'd already picked out who I wanted to win.

And I'll tell you something else. I'm not so sure that the producers don't plant those slutty, annoying girls who drive the others crazy. There's one on every show. I mean who really acts like that? I'm convinced the producers tell the bachelor that he has to keep "the pill" on through most of the show. I mean isn't it the conflict that sells? That's Creative Writing 101. I'm telling you The Bachelor has us all hornswoggled.

Thanks for all of the posts last week and especially for all of the new followers that have signed up. Please keep up the comments. I want everyone to have a chance to win all the great prizes we're offering up. This week Maureen is giving away a signed copy of A Bump In The Road. Just feast your eyes over to the right to learn how to win.

I'd love to know if anyone else feels the same way as I do about The Bachelor. Come on now. Don't hold back!