Students from Snow Hall host a parody of the popular TV show, ‘The Bachelor’
Most roommates are content to make fun of reality shows from the couch, but a group of USU freshmen decided to share their jokes with a larger audience.
Erik Dalton, a freshman studying broadcast journalism, recruited one man and 17 women from among their neighbors to film a parody of ABC’s “The Bachelor.” The show’s premise is similar to the reality series it’s based on – 17 women vie for the affection of Andrew Kenney, a freshman majoring in economics and finance. The plan is to eliminate the contestants over several episodes.
“Snow Hall Bachelor 2013,” premiered Sunday to more than 40 people crowded in the dark front room of a dorm on the fifth floor of Snow Hall. Viewers sat on the floor, on couches, the armrests and backrests of couches as the episode played – The women, wearing dresses, introduced themselves one by one to Kenney, who wore suit and tie. The contestants whispered to each other about strategy and the other women to create tension during a mocktail party in Snow Hall.
Though the contestants were acting, the scenes weren’t scripted, Dalton said.
“It would be really hard to script this thing,” Dalton said. “It’s just Kenney talking to the girls.”
Dalton said he expects to produce an episode weekly until the end of the semester, not including spring break. He said he wanted to post the first episode on YouTube on Monday, but the upload failed. He said they’ll try to get the episode online some time Tuesday.
Much of the show’s entertainment value comes from the contestants’ ad-libbing, said Nick Menendez, the show’s director and a freshman majoring in business administration.
“The girls are funny. They’re just genuinely funny. People should be laughing when they watch it,” Menendez said. “We just tell them to keep the mindset, like ‘You guys are here to win,’ and they just go with it for the rest of the night.”
Unlike the actual Bachelor series, “Snow Hall Bachelor 2013” won’t end in marriage. Kenney plans to leave on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June. Dalton said they’re considering letting the winner write letters to Kenney as a prize.
“It’s fun to be compared to the real Bachelor, because they have these, you know, big studs on the show, but most of it’s a joke,” Kenney said. “I’m leaving in four months. I’m not really looking for love.”
Dalton said the show is a parody, but he’s been surprised at the competitiveness of the competitors.
“It’s a joke and it’s supposed to be funny, but some people, you know, it actually kind of seems like it’s a little real.” Dalton said. “After filming the first episode, I think some of these girls are really into Kenney. They want to win it.”
Dalton said it wasn’t long from the time he had the idea to the premiere of the first episode.
“We all watch the bachelor as a room together,” Dalton said. “One weekend I was thinking, ‘How fun would it be to have our own bachelor here at Snow Hall?’ I just followed through with it.”
The day after he had the idea, Dalton made a Facebook page titled, “Andrew Kenney, Snow Hall Bachelor 2013.” Ten days later, they had finished filming the first episode and posted a trailer on YouTube. The weekend after the trailer was posted, it attracted more than 1,000 views. Kenney said he’s already been recognized on campus as the Snow Hall Bachelor once, and he’s seen people around campus looking at the Facebook page.
“We didn’t expect it to get very big at all,” Kenney said.
Kenzie Bowhuss, a contestant on the show and a USU freshman, attended the premiere. She said for the most part, she liked how the show came together.
“I think they did a good job of appealing to the audience, but I’m a little bit upset about it.” Bowhuss said. “I knew what went on behind the scenes, and they didn’t include things from everyone. They only picked segments that were funny or that would appeal to the emotions of the audience so that they would either hate this girl or love her or think she’s funny. They didn’t really pick the normal girls who probably have the best chance.”
Bowhuss said she had a hard time knowing how to act on camera. She understood the show was filmed for entertainment, but the producers encouraged the contestants to treat it seriously. Interacting with Kenney on camera was also complicated, she said.
“We had to act like we’d never met him before,” Bowhuss said. “Some of us are already friends with him. Faking a first impression is a little bit hard.”
Kenney said the first impression scenes were awkward, but he expects the awkwardness to decrease over the span of the show.
“It was a little awkward in the first episode,” Kenney said. “I think it was going to be that way no matter what, but now it’s not awkward when I see them in the halls.”
– steve.kent@aggiemail.usu.edu