bachelorette

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but on reality TV, every looks are off. No one cares about "personality" in the world of talent shows and dating games, because, let's face it, most reality contestants don't have one.

It's not that we're shallow (much), but on shows like 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette,' it's safe to say we're not tuning in for the focusing conversation or sparkling wit -- there's a grounds why ABC opted to open last season's 'Bachelor' premiere with all of those generous shots of Jake Pavelka soaping up his washboard abs, after all.

So sue us if we were kind of hoping for some eye candy to nibble on when the newest season of 'The Bachelorette' rolled around (premiere airs tonight at 9PM ET). Twenty-five eligible men vying for one lucky lady? Sounds like any girl's dream come true, right?

Wrong; unless you like your men with an overabundance of forehead, ear or nose, chances are that the bevy of bachelors chosen for Ali Fedotowsky aren't likely to have you running to the florist to invest in roses.

OK, maybe it's mean spirited to pick on a guy (or 10) who's on a quest for true love just because of some unfortunate genetics, but hey, if you don't want to be scrutinized by the cold, harsh light of the media over your superficial flaws, don't sign up for a reality dating show.

Unless you've been living under a rock since the fall and were somehow fortunate enough to miss the scandalicious last season of 'The Bachelor,' you're probably familiar with Ali Fedotowsky, an advertising account manager from San Francisco who was an early favorite to fly off into the sunset with 'Bachelor' Jake (we were totally rooting for her; Vienna was just so screechy).

ABC is now marketing Ali as "America's newest sweetheart," after she won the hearts of the nation following her shocking exit from 'The Bachelor' to return to her job; a job she subsequently quit to become 'The Bachelorette.'

We assume that this total abandonment of real life is Ali's way of safeguarding against the urge to change her mind and walk out in the middle of her own reality show after seeing the lackluster group of guys the producers have assembled for her. Or to "commit to the search for love, blah blah blah soulmates," etc.

But if America and ABC love Ali as much as the advertising materials claim, would it have been so difficult to scrape together a few male models, wannabe actors, suave advertising execs and maybe a pro-wrestler or two? (Well, one out of four ain't bad.) Going from a musclebound Texan pilot with a million-dollar smile to a shiny-skinned weatherman is not our idea of a happy ending for our lovelorn Bachelorette -- were the pickings really that slim?

It doesn't help much that the publicity photos make all of the guys look vaguely psychotic, but having seen a screener of the season premiere, we can attest that movement doesn't improve the bunch that much. But since we at TV Squad are an altruistic group, we've rounded up photos in a nice little gallery below so that you can brace yourself before the show airs tonight. Just don't say we didn't warn you.

Original article: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/24/alis-bachelorette-2010-suitors-um-wheres-the-man-candy/