“The Bachelorette” premiered its 10th season Monday night with Atlanta-based attorney Andi Dorfman. After her fatefully doomed attempt at love with the utterly obnoxious Juan Pablo, the high-powered lawyer has her heart set on 25 charming men who are each eager to impress.
Dorfman’s gracious and enthusiastic attitude sets the tone for a season that will be all about generating the ideal love connection — and possibly finding a husband for the 27-year-old legal gal.
Here are the five best moments from the 90-minute premiere.
Andi’s gold dress choice
In a few scenes we see Dorfman packing up for her trip to Los Angeles. She discusses the possibility of meeting her match with her sister at home. The two talk while Andi goes back and forth between two gold dresses for her big reveal.
Thankfully, she chooses the right one — opting out of the gaudy sateen gold number, which resembled a dated, high-school prom gown.
Eric Hill’s farewell
For viewers looking back at the season from a future perspective, the premiere opens on a somber note. In a few words, “Bachelorette” host Chris Harrison acknowledges the sudden passing of one of the competing men, Eric Hill, who died in a paragliding accident in April. Hill eerily discussed his love for travel and adventure during his private one-on-one with Dorfman.
The show was pressed with the difficult task of deciding whether or not to cut Hill’s clips out of the show. Producers ultimately decided to keep Hill’s quest for love with Dorfman in the final cut, and this entire season is dedicated to him.
Andi doesn’t hold back
Dorfman could hardly contain herself when the first limo of handsome men arrives — the first of whom was Marcus, a 25-year-old sports medicine manager from Dallas.
After he greets her, she laughs giddily to the camera and whispers under her breath, “Wow, he’s hot!”
Awkward introductions
With the possibility of going home after the first night, the bachelors take it upon themselves to leave a lasting impression — no matter how awkward, dorky or uncomfortable it might have been.
Jason, the urgent care doctor, piles on the cheese when he gives Dorfman an instant diagnosis of “having a fever because she was too hot.”
Emil introduces himself and tells Andi an easier way to remember him: “It’s like anal, just replace “n” with an “m.”
Another guy brings her a tall floor lamp from the hotel because his mom said he should always bring a gift.
The party crasher
In a freakishly desperate attempt to gain some attention (and ratings for the show), Chris — an old castoff from Emily Maynard’s season of “The Bachelorette” — tries to get on the show. He flies to the mansion from who-knows-where, stands outside with a wilted bouquet of roses and begs show host Harrison to let him in.
Out of respect to the other men, a flattered Dorfman politely declines his advances. In protest, he tells the security team that he will not be leaving the premises. What a smooth introduction.
In the end, Dorfman says goodbye to all the strange ones — and apparently she isn’t too fond of long hair. Steven, Emil, Rudy, Mike, Josh and Jason all got the boot.
We forecast the frontrunners will be: Marcus (she’s obviously smitten); Marquel and his cookie-tasting; and Nick V., who received the first impression rose.
Stay tuned.