One of the eternally upsetting things about reality TV in the 21st century is it’s hold on us.  We have to watch, even though we know it might either be completed staged or at least somewhat scripted.  I mean, on Survivor, someone other than the contestants choose the location of the show, someone other than the contestants choose the challenges…

Take last night’s new Bachelorette…it was Hometown Date week where DeAnna was to meet the families of all four men left in the competition (if that’s what it’s called).  For those who are watching the show regularly this summer, you all know how the relationship has been between DeAnna and Graham.

She is more attracted to him than any of the other contestants…and it was plainly evident she wanted more with him than with another other guy there.  So it comes down to the hometown date, and things are going well until the very end when two things happen…first, Graham’s mom reinforces with DeAnna how Graham has not be in many committed relationships and that he might not be ready for it because he’s scared.  And then when Graham gets alone with DeAnna after the family meeting, he clams up and just says nothing…and I mean nothing…when DeAnna is looking desperately for confirmation of his feelings for her.

In the end, as you probably already know, Graham got the boot.  He and DeAnna had a few moments at the end of the show where she poured her heart out to him and he seemed to finally understand how badly he had screwed things up.  He gave her some letter he’d written her for her to read after he leaves…for all the good that will do.  He didn’t get a rose!  He’s a goner!

Unless he has his phone number in there for when the relationship that DeAnna has with the guy she finally settles on is over, that letter was pretty pointless.

When the show was finally over, Christy said I had the same look on my face then as when the Braves blow a lead in a baseball game and lose the game…very similar feeling.  As my dad is apt to say, Graham had the world by the butt in a downhill drag and he blew his brains out.  It was his to win!  All he had to do was give DeAnna just a little bit of his heart and she would’ve fallen head over heels in love with him.

I guess it’s a good thing that it didn’t happen, because Graham obviously has a history of doing this to the women he dates…it’s a product of the lifestyle he leads (pro basketball players are notorious womanizers, you need look no further than Kobe Bryant for an example).

Even so…what a doofus.