First, I’d like to thank Walt for recapping while I was gone. Something about watching The Bachelor on my honeymoon just didn’t make sense… oh, and Jamaica was awesome

Week three of The Bachelor 12 “London Calling” begins with a recap of what we already know about Matt and a preview of what is to come (hooray for cat fights!). Chris comes into the room of girls and explains the week’s dates. There will be one group date and two one-on-one dates with a rose involved in all dates. If you don’t receive a rose on the one-on-one, as has been the previous rule, you go home. Shayne says she’ll die if she goes home on a one-on-one. I doubt that.

Single Date:
Holly gets the first single date and Matt is taking her to a movie premiere in Hollywood. They will be seeing Made of Honor because Patrick Dempsey is beautiful and because it is a chick flick and the type of movie that is perfect for a first date. Holly says she is confident that there is chemistry, but not that she’ll be receiving the rose. Both Matt and Holly are very excited. They step out of the limo in slo-mo style to the paparazzi and photographers waiting and snapping pictures. At first I think, this is so not what happens on a first date. But then I think, when this is over, this is going to be happening to Matt and the winner for a few months, so may as well get used to it now. Anyway, they look great together, like they are really into each other and both do a really nice job handling pictures and interviews. WHOA! Nice, Holly. She gets the works: popcorn, pop, and candy. She cries, he comforts her. They liked the date a lot and Matt says he can’t wait to spend more time with her.

After the movie, he takes her across the street to the penthouse suite at a hotel. This also involves a rooftop terrace. They sit down and talk about her job (writing kid’s books) and how she got into it (she loved to baby-sit, then moved to CA and had to leave her kids, so she writes books about missing people which I think is absolutely endearing and adorable). Conversation flows well.

Meanwhile, the group date box arrives for all but Shayne (which she is delighted to discover) and then back to Holly and Matt where he comments on how she drinks two beers and orders steak and really, how awesome is that? And maybe a first in Bachelor history? Then they talk about the elephant in the room (the rose) and how they’re so comfortable together that Matt is worried they are too comfortable. Is there electricity? This puts Holly off her game.

Meanwhile, the cement hand prints that Holly and Matt made on their date shows up at the house where the girls come out and remark on how annoying it is that it says “Holly + Matt” and “Matt Hearts Holly.”

Back to the date and the hot tub (of course) where there’s more talk, and lots of kissy face. Matt finally gets the rose and gives it to her, they do a lot more kissing with a close up on the rose and he says, “It’s going to take a hell of a lot to beat this.” Now, as an unbiased (sort of) observer, I think they really dig each other and they are so natural together, I like her and hope she sticks around.

Group Date:

Next up, the group date. Matt teaches the 10 other women about rugby because he wants to see who will put the most effort in to learn a game that is very important to him. They stretch and make jokes about Matt staring at everyone’s butts. Ashlee makes me angry, but I don’t remember what she said. Hmm, is this Rugby or mud wrestling? Lots of sexual innuendos flying around. Then, apparently Robin blows him away by her effort. Amanda gets some coaching.

Back at the house, Shayne needs to tan and oh, my gosh, really? Holly brought this whole tanning apparatus (spray) and sprays Shayne down while they black out Shayne’s butt. I can’t take it. A tanning system? Really? I bet he doesn’t even notice.

Back at Rugby, they pick teams and captains. Ashlee is last and she’s not happy. Chelsea plays a little dirty which is hilarious and Marshana gets a bloody lip. The usual happens where people think she’s being a baby because they are annoyed that Matt gives her some one-on-one time. She says her ego’s not bruised by this because she still looks fabulous. Then Matt takes them back to his place for a party.

Ooh, surprise! Massage tables, a hot tub, and a pool. Obviously this means half-naked women (duh) and Matt takes Kelly down to the massage room for some alone time. She sexual innuendos some more and gives him a massage. People get nervous about the rose. Robin gets a little desperate, seems to start “upping her game” and goes into the hot tub with him (at his request). They make out and the girls talk about the rose some more. Amanda and Matt spend some time together, though have limited time because Noelle and Kristine come crash the party and it’s all awkward after that (especially since they just sit there staring, what is going on?!).

Meanwhile, Shayne’s box comes and she’s stoked about something having to do with wine.

Matt gives Robin the rose (which makes me cringe because she rubs me the wrong way) and Chelsea and Kelly don’t like her.

Single Date:
Now Shayne’s going wine tasting (so cool!) and proceeds to shock me with all her accessories (huge boots, a hat changing thing in the car, and some huge sunglasses). Matt’s concerned about Shayne because of her tantrum last week and the character clashes he’s sensed. He asks about her career and family and she tries to downplay it, but ends up dodging every question in a really weird way. Seems she moved out at 17 and has really matured in some areas, but not at all in others which makes for a weird combination. He interviews that her being 22 and an actress is weird for him.

At dinner, he asks her point blank if she’s high maintenance and she says yes (which is good, because there’s no evidence to the contrary) and she’s really into five things: shoes, watches, sunglasses, cars, and something else that is materialistic and then says if you have those then it doesn’t matter what you have on your body. He wonders if she’s one sandwich short of a picnic or the best thing since sliced bread and I’m thinking she’s really sweet and cute but I’m not sure about her.

At the house, Robin goes on and on about her and Matt, the girls are annoyed, and Amanda meeps.

Shayne and Matt talk a lot more and you can tell they really like each other and she’ll stick around awhile, but I think her immaturity will be her downfall. Sad, she seems nice, but he gives her a rose and she’s here at least until next week. To me, there’s no doubt that she’s genuine (they give her so much screen time that I can’t disagree with that), but there are times when she is talking that I forget I am only a year older, and not a whole lot more.

There’s a cat fight preview (can’t wait!) and the girls are going to spew about Robin some more (who needs more humility).

Cocktail Party:
The cocktail party comes at last. Chelsea thinks about Matt, and Matt says she shines for him. Apparently she is also a great kisser. Noelle thinks she’s going home, cries to Robin because she thinks she is real and “nobody sees that” while Robin says if she thinks she’s going home and isn’t happy, she shouldn’t accept a rose. Nice way to try and sabotage her, Robin.

Matt’s talking to Amy now and Robin steals (WHAT! You have a rose!) so Kelly, Shayne, and Amy steal him back (Shayne’s actually really sweet about this whole thing, sticking up for Amy) and Marshana is glad they did because what Robin did was NOT cool. Ah yes, the cat fight. Robin yelling that she’ll fight, Chelsea saying she may get slapped in the process. Now Kristine and Matt are talking, more cat fighting. Holly steals Matt away and they go out to the concrete hands, she tearily interviews how much she likes him, she tells him it’s hard, they kiss.

Rose Ceremony:

Chris busts up the party for the “toughest decision yet” (as it will always be) and says “Whose dream of marrying an English gentleman will come to an end?” And I think, Chris needs a new shtick.

Roses go to: Holly, Robin, and Shayne (as we already know), Amanda (woo!), Ashlee (boo!), Kelly, Chelsea, Noelle, and Marshana. Erin, Amy, and Kristine have to leave and all leave in a very tasteful manner. Sad, because I could see those 3 stay and at least Robin and Ashlee go, but it’s not my love life (thankfully) so they must be off.

My favorites after this week? Holly and Amanda. Shayne goes hot and cold for me, and I don’t know the others well enough to have any more favorites. Tune in next week when Matt takes Amanda on a one-on-one, Holly and Marshana on a 2-on-one (where one stays, one goes) and the rest on a group date. Should be interesting and we’ll have only six left after that!

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

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