Oh, how I’ve missed Chris Harrison. Welcome to season 12 of The Bachelor: London Calling. Tonight, we meet the 25 potential Mrs. Matt Grants and send 10 of them packing. According to Matt, he’s “Here to steal your women” so all dads be forewarned!

We begin the episode with all the history and background on the new Bachelor. As previously posted, he is the youngest of five (by a lot) with all four brothers being married already. He was the captain of his rowing team in college, but also played rugby and soccer and if he plays anything else, my dog stepped on the remote and thus changed the channel on me. He is a banker who deals with high end clients (rich people) and is looking for love. He thinks American girls are exciting and he’s hoping to find someone beautiful, funny, and genuine. We then get a preview of all the cat fighting (yipee!).

Here’s Chris again! He comes out and welcomes us to the 12th season (aww, thanks!) and hypes up the fact that Matt is English (lots of hype). The rest of it is the usual “hottest bachelor in history” stuff, so I won’t bore you with that. Enter Matt looking all spiffy in his suit and rain coat. Chris and Matt have cute banter about bringing the rain with him from England, but he affirms that he’s “serious about finding ‘the one’” so we get on with the show. More hype about “the wildest party in Bachelor history” with weird dancing, arm wrestling, and HOLY COW! Some girl drops her panties in his pocket. Nice.

Then we have an interview (inside) with Matt and Chris where we hear exactly what we heard in the opening introduction. Some of the highlights:

Matt likes being tested and pulled out of his comfort zone, so he is really excited to be here.
It’s hard to meet genuine women in England.
He hopes they like his stupid sense of humor, height, and the British part of him.
He’s going to be himself.
Was in love before, but the timing was off (I think. My dog wanted to watch Deal or no Deal).
Wants to settle down because of coming from older parents.
Wants to share his wife and kids with his parents.

On a side note, I really want to watch Miss Guided because I love Judy Greer.

Here come the limos! Lots of “Oh my God, he’s so hot!”

Amanda R (pretty dress): Lived in England four years, seems cute and sweet with a nice smile.
Amy: they had few words before she disappeared.
“Wow!” says Matt of Devon (he thinks she’s hot).
Kristine: seems mature.
Chelsea: She wants to arm wrestle him which could seem weird, but actually comes off as sweet.
Erin H.: apparently has a ring on “that finger” which is her “place holder until he puts one there.”
Kelly: seems really nervous.
Rebecca: figures out he’s from England right away.
Denise: pretty, but boring conversation.
Erin S.: has a very nervous sense of humor going on.
Robin: lived in London, but likes soccer better than rowing. Uh oh!
Ashlee: really sparkly dress, nervous.
Alyssa: too quick to comment.
Michelle P.: very sweet and cute.
Shayne: sultry and flirty.
Marshana: made her own dress (cool!) seems really nice.
Amanda P.: looks really young, gives Matt a souvenir from Las Vegas.
Tamara: really nervous.
Holly: whoa dress. Says she’s not nervous, but excited.
Tiffany: pretends to do a British accent and says he looks, “Shahp.” (Sharp)
Carri: says she’s, “As American as it gets.” My husband likes her “smokin’” dress.
Stacey: calls him baby. Is she drunk already?
Lesley: short conversation.
Michele R.: Weird hair.
Noelle: says it’s nerve racking and that she’s a “sucker for accents.”

Now, is it just me or are 90% of the girls really giggly? Maybe they have too much to drink in the limos?

Commercials, then Chris Harrison asks him, “What do you think?” He says, “Wow, they’re amazing.” Chris explains first impression rose, sends him in to a house of cat calls. He mingles and the girls interview: Ashlee thinks he’s perfect, Chelsea thinks he’s hot, Kelly loves his accent, Amanda R. could “totally fall in love and I’ve only known him twenty seconds!” Chris brings in the rose which stirs the pot. There’s more mingling. Chelsea and Matt arm wrestle. First he’s losing, then winning, then he lets her win and thinks she’s fun. Then EW! Carri bites through a tin can in the middle of Matt’s political conversation with another lady. Rebecca dances, girls get catty. Ashlee wrote him a song which almost guarantees a rose. Amanda R. says she gets weird hiccups when she’s nervous. Michelle P. brought her clarinet (!) which she plays pretty well (turns out she got her music ed. Degree just like me!).

Now they start getting cattier. Lots of bleeping and someone uses the word “nutbag” which I don’t actually think is an accepted term. No one likes Stacey. Now she’s stroking his leg while he talks to Erin H. (who he actually likes). Then she babbles about London (which does not make sense at all) and he leaves to talk to Erin S. Oops! There go the panties (poor hot dog vendor!). Except, wait, she handles it really well! Then Erin S. and Matt make fun of Stacey and bond! Aww, how cute. More Stacey bashing (she’s passed out on a bed) and no rose yet.

He likes Shayne, you can tell. They talk about Adventure Scouts and growing up in Hollywood. She sells herself hardcore delivering all the right lines really well. One could even say she seems genuine, but I can’t make that assumption about an actress quite yet. He then talks to Noelle about the “old person” sides that they each have. Now Robin is talking about travel (which they both enjoy). They really seem to be hitting it off and he stands up to get the rose! I assume he gives it to Robin, but then he walks right past and gives it to Amanda R. (first out of the limo, weird hiccups). He likes that she’s down to Earth and gives an ooey gooey speech about her.

Enter Chris to break up the party. Matt speaks the usual hooplah about feeling privileged to meet everyone, it’s a hard decision, etc. Then Chris voices over about how it’s the “Hardest Decision of his life,” which is true now, but will continue to be true at each Rose Ceremony, so why say it now?

Ok, so roses go to:

1. Amanda R. (congrats on first impression)
2. Chelsea
3. Shayne
4. Michelle P. (aww, the clarinet worked! I like her!)
5. Marshana (he loves her outfit)
6. Ashlee
7. Noelle
8. Erin S.
9. Amy
10. Carri (really? The tin can girl?)
11. Kristine (who seems grounded)
12. Robin
13. Kelly
14. Holly
15. Erin H.

The exiting girls boo hoo on camera and the remaining girls drink more with Matt. Can’t wait for the rest of the season! After tonight, I like Amanda R., Chelsea, Michelle P., and Erin S. See you next week!

Find more Bachelor news and updates at Bachelor Updates.

Please welcome Gretchen to Wild Bluff Media! She’ll be our correspondent for The Bachelor: London Calling all season.

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