Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s First 'Bachelor' Promo Is Here
ABC threw everyone for a loop last week when it announced Arie Luyendyk Jr., from Emily Maynard’s 2012 season of The Bachelorette, is the next Bachelor. Yes, you read that correctly: 2012. Five years ago. Why ABC thought this was a good choice is beyond me—and all of Bachelor Nation. These Twitter reactions prove it.
But since we’re moving forward with Luyendyk Jr., let me refresh your memory on this guy: The 35-year-old is a real estate agent from Arizona whose father is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, something I’m told is a big deal to straight people. And to be fair to Luyendyk, he was actually great on Maynard’s Bachelorette season. No shade to him—it’s just so strange that ABC made such a from-the-vault choice, especially when there were so many options from Rachel Lindsay’s season (cough, Hot Peter, cough).
But, alas, here we are: Hot Peter-less and with an auto-racing Bachelor 50 percent of fans completely forgot about. If ABC has its way, though, Luyendyk Jr. will be your fave by the time The Bachelor airs in January 2018. The network, somehow, just unveiled the first promo for Luyendyk Jr.’s season, and it’s…well, it’s a lot of things. Watch it for yourself, here, and then let’s discuss.
ABC’s really trying to make this “sexy race car driver” thing work. “Hearts will race,” a throaty voice booms over shots of Luyendyk strutting his stuff in what looks like a car-themed spacesuit. Listen, I get that this is Luyendyk Jr.’s “thing,” but race car driving is a very un-sexy sport. You drive around in circles in a car with tinted windows. No one can even see you! Why didn’t they have him do, like, benchpresses in the middle of a race car track or something? That would be very on-brand for The Bachelor and with this new theme ABC’s aiming for.
The network also managed to find the only positive tweets about Luyendyk Jr.’s casting and used them as gushy fanfare, but my Peter-loving heart isn’t taking the bait. Again, Luyendyk Jr. is great—despite his affinity for cars and hair gel—but he’s not who fans wanted. That’s the truth.
Nevertheless, I remain optimistic about this season—and I’ll still watch—but I think I speak on behalf of all Bachelor Nation with this simple request: Please, ABC, no more car puns.
Related Stories: