‘Bachelorette’ Finale Breaks Ratings Records…For Lowest Ever
The season finale of ABC’s The Bachelorette broke ratings records on Monday night. Unfortunately, it was a record for low ratings. As the titular bachelorette, Andi Dorfman, made her choice, viewers apparently chose to watch or do other things. According to USA Today, the finale pulled 8 million viewers, down from the 8.9 million viewers during last summer’s Bachelorette finale. If there’s anything encouraging in the dismal numbers, it’s that the finale generated this season’s highest rated episode — but it was also the lowest rated finale in Bachelorette history.
Adding insult to injury, the After The Final Rose show, a recap and revisit interview with the contestants–particularly Dorfman and the man she didn’t choose–that aired immediately following the finale drew 8.2 million viewers. Yes, the recap show pulled more than the show itself. Apparently, it was on the After The Final Rose where the fireworks really went off. Even before the interview aired, news of deceit and backstabbing leaked. As reported on The Inquisitr, Juan Pablo Galavis had some choice words via twitter for the bachelorette, who famously walked out of Galavis during his run on last spring’s The Bachelor citing she had nothing in common with Galavis.
It was this decision that many assume convinced producers to give Dorfman the spot on The Bachelorette this season. Her ultimate choice of Josh Murray, the ex-pro baseball player with the pearly white teeth, over kind-hearted Nick Viall ended her time as bachelorette, but not without some controversy and some obligatory steam. The decision sent shockwaves through TV land as Viall regaled tales of their on-show sexual encounters to the national audience as he sought to confront Dorfman to ask why she slept with him on the show, but ultimately chose Murray.
According to Variety, this season’s Bachelorette had been tracking lower ratings all summer, down about 23 percent in the coveted 18-49-year old demographic, and down 11 percent in total viewers from previous seasons. The next installment in the reality show/competition series, titled Bachelor in Paradise premieres next month on ABC. As for the future of The Bachelorette, ABC has committed to the series for the time being, as it has become a summer staple–even with the lowest series ratings ever–for the network. Expect a new batch of eligible guys to pine for the love of an female outcast from one of the two upcoming Bachelor shows next May.
For now, this season of The Bachelorette has wrapped, and Andi and Josh are together, and Nick is probably still angry. At least until the producers call with an offer.
