Harrison is right. The cast is fascinating to watch and seem to have been made for television. There’s Sheridan, 27, who looks like a cross between Bo Bice from Idol fame and Jason Mamoa, with his long, curly hair. He has a car named Sheila, so naturally he’s looking “for a copilot for her.” There’s Jamie, 21, a hostess who says every guy she’s ever dated has cheated on her, and it’s her dream to have Mr. Perfect write her a love song. (If only it were that easy.) If the show wasn’t so set on forming romantic connections, I’d love to see what kind of music Jamie and Rudi, 24, a studio vocalist, could come up with. Much like Jamie’s frustrations with men, Rudi says she’s already dated most of the guys in L.A. and is exhausted. “Where are all the good ones?” she complains to Harrison. “I’m 24, I’m so fucking ready.”
(From left: Mel, Jamie and Trevor)
John Fleenor/ABCThen there’s Trevor Holmes, 29, a social media marketing guy whom Katy Perry declared “so hot” when he auditioned for Idol a couple years ago. He currently wants someone other than his dog to be loyal and committed to him. From the looks of episode one, that won’t be a problem.
Ironically, a problem in past Bachelor seasons has been the number of contestants looking for fame—or Instagram sponsorships—and our frustration that they aren’t really there for love. With Listen to Your Heart, these contestants don’t have to hide their ambition. They all want some level of fame and success their everyday lives haven’t yet afforded them. So in order to do that, they have to fall in love—and prove they have the music chops to make a connection.
“If you’re not part of a committed couple, you’re going home,” Harrison warns says. “The ultimate challenge…it’s not just to become a music star or to find love…it’s to get it all.”
While music is the common denominator, love—and drama—is still front and center. Whether any of these contestants come out of the show with mainstream success is beside the point, and the producers know it. They just want to entertain.
“The great thing about [the show premiering now is] that there is a silver lining to this horrific situation,” Harrison says. “There is this desire for not just content but also community. And I think Listen to Your Heart is just going to be an extension of that community. We want to talk about it on social media and have that escapism that we all love The Bachelor and Bachelorette for.”
The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart premieres Monday, April 13 on ABC.
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram at @jessicaradloff14.
