by David McAlpine

For all of us who watched the last season of The Bachelor (whether you want to admit it or not), we're familiar with the heartbreak that 29 year-old interior designer Jillian Harris went through with Jason Melnick. For those of you who are still in the dark, Jillian opened up her heart to Jason, prompted by the bachelor himself, and started to fall in love with him...until Jason dumped her at the final three. But now she's back on this season of The Bachelorette and ready to find her soul mate.

Before the game begins, we get a preview of some of the contestants vying for Jillian's heart. They include: Steve, a 30 year-old attorney-at-law from New York City, who has always been looking, but never found a woman. Then there's Mark, a 26 year-old entrepreneur from Denver who owns a marketing company and a pizza company and enjoys cycling. Kyle, a 26 year-old graphic designer from New York City is also on this season. He likes going to thrift stores and thinks Jillian will pick him because he looks good and he smells good. Great philosophy, Kyle. Another featured contestant is Wes, a 32 year-old country singer from Austin, Texas, who had a #1 song in Chihuahua, Mexico, where he's called "rooster." Speaking of nicknames, another contestant is "Billbro" a.k.a. Greg, a 31 year-old professional fitness model. And he seems like an amateur a-hole, too. The last taste we get is Jacob, a 31 year-old commercial pilot from Dallas, who likes that Jillian is looking for her best friend as well as a husband. He calls himself America's "hopeful romantic."

The guys start to pile into the limos, while Jillian sits down to talk to Chris and explains that she has to "slay a few dragons to find her prince." Apparently her family has started the grandchildren talk, so she's ready to find her "Mr. Invisible" (since she doesn't know what he looks like yet). Chris asks her if she regrets anything from the last season. She nervously laughs and says no. She makes it clear she's looking for a man with a sharp sense of humor and a good communicator.

Jillian steps outside and nervously waits outside the limo to meet her 25 potential suitors. Out steps Kiptyn, the 31 year old business developer from Encinitas, California. Next is Bryan, a 28 year-old high school teacher and coach from Dallas, Texas. He literally sweeps Jillian off her feet, then walks inside. After him is John P., a 29 year-old marketing specialist from Indiana and tries to bond over their "common hick"ness. Next is Brian, the 32 year-old consultant from Atlanta. After Brian is Jake, the pilot, who is very taken aback by Jillian. He gives her a set of the little pilot wings so she can remember him, and I like him already.

Inside, the guys toast to Jason for giving her up, then comment on how good Jillian looks. Back outside, the second limo pulls up and out steps Dave, the 27 year-old contractor from Dayton, Ohio, who loses his words right as he meets her. Next is Tanner F, the 28 year-old sales representative from Denver, followed by Michael, the break dance instructor. After him is Robby, a 25 year-old bartender from Dallas, who offers to make her his specialty drink. Next up is John H, a 27 year-old branding consultant from Boise, Idaho, who fawns over Jillian.

The third limo brings Sasha, a 27 year-old oil & gas consultant from Houston, who says this is an awkward mix of prom and a mixer. Next is Brad, a 27 year-old from Chicago, who tells her exactly which side is his best side. Next is Mathue, a 26 year-old personal trainer from Wichita, Kansas who shows Jillian his signed cowboy hat. They bond briefly over their love of country music (her favorite band is the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). Simon, a 26 year-old soccer coach from Bradford, England is next, who needs subtitle to be understood. But hey, at least he offers to make her a cup of tea. Next is Jesse, a 27 year-old wine maker from Carmel Valley, California.

Chris lets Jillian take a breather, then brings on the fourth limo. Out steps Julien, a 34 year old entrepreneur from Rancho Santa Fe, California, who tries to flatter Jillian. After him is Wes, the country singer, then Kyle, the eccentric graphic designer, who can't even find his way in. Next is Adam, a 27 year-old Olympic cyclist from Long Beach, California, followed by Steve, our unlucky-in-love lawyer.

The fifth limo carries Juan, the Argentinian charmer (complete with castanets in the background), then Caleb, a 27 year-old photographer from Nashville, Tennessee. Josh, a 25 year-old lifeguard from Newport Beach, California is after him, followed by "Billbro," who apparently has married several people in addition to being a jerk. After him is Mark, who tries to apply Jillian's condiment theory to his pizza expertise. After all the men have met Jillian, Chris lets her know that 10 men have to go home tonight.

Chris also lets Jillian know that she has a first impression rose tonight that she can give to anyone at the end of the mixer. With that, Jillian enters the party and the guys start fawning over her. Every guy comments about how good she looks, but no one tries to talk to her until Jake pulls her aside. Jillian is really intrigued by his profession (being a pilot), but he's interrupted by Jesse, who strikes up a conversation with Jillian about wine. Then he shows her the shirt he's wearing under his shirt, which says "Aspiring Candian," and Jillian eats it up.

Tanner steals her away next and tells her that Jason made a big mistake (not like everyone else hasn't told her that). Kiptyn is next, who tells Jillian that he's strictly a ketchup guy. Her laugh and flat comment doesn't sound good for him, and she looks happy to be stolen away by Juan. They talk about the importance of family in their lives, and also share their thinking about working hard and playing hard. I think I see sparks there.

Chris brings out the first impression rose and the tension in the room heightens. All the guys begin to swarm around Jillian, but she gets away with Kyle and Brian. Brian calls her a "sassy little minx," while Kyle draws a mustache on her finger like all his friends have. Brian says his ethnicity is "honky" and it looks like she's starting to panic. At least, until she's picked up (literally, again) and taken away.

Next to get alone time is Wes, who sings her a song. While he's playing, the guys react less than favorable, obviously because they all don't know how to follow that up. Michael gives it a shot, though by teaching her how to do a couple breakdancing moves. "Billbro" challenges Michael to a dance off and fails to upstage him, but makes a nice effort.

Dave gets a chance to talk to her next and finally has something to say to her and they share a toast to renewed first impressions. All the men are adjourned into the living room and Chris tells everyone (including Jillian) that, since there was such overwhelming response to her being the bachelorette, 5 more men would be joining them, making it 30 contestants.

One of the new contestants is Ed, a 29 year-old technology consultant from Chicago, Illinois who realizes he's focused too much on his career and is ready to find love. Another one of the newbies, Tanner P, a 30 year-old financial analyst, grabs Jillian and takes her out by the pool. He tells us right away that he's a foot man, so he gets Jillian to dip her feet into the pool so he can see them (but of course he doesn't tell her why). Then he gets jealous of the next guy who gets to dry her feet...weird.

The guys start to get a little more anxious at the night draws on because they have less and less time to spend with her. John H. takes her aside next and brings up Jason (hasn't anyone realized she's tired of talking about it?) and talks about how much he didn't appreciate her, blah, blah, blah. Jillian makes a run for the first impression rose and gives it to Dave, who none of the guys seem to particularly like.

Chris ends the party and takes Jillian into another room, where she talks about her impressions of the guys. She seems to be really impressed with Michael and Wes, as well as Tanner P and Dave. Jillian takes a look at the 30 men's pictures and starts making her choices. She steps out of the room and in front of the men to start handing out the roses.

Jake (the pilot) is up first, followed by Jesse (the wine maker). Wes (the country singer) also gets a rose, as does Matheu (the personal trainer). Michael (the break dancer), Robert, Ed and Reed also all get roses. The next rose is given to Simon (the Englishman), then Kiptyn, Mike, Brian D., Sasha (the Serbian) and Julien. After them, Tanner P (the foot man), Mark, Brian and Tanner F all receive roses, leaving the final rose for 11 men. All that's running through my head now is "WHAT ABOUT JUAN?" And her final pick? Juan. I'm a matchmaker in the making, obviously.

The 10 men who didn't get a rose walk away disappointed, including Stephen, the never lucky lawyer. Stephen thinks she was looking for more of a country guy, while he was a little more city. So the fact that she kept so many of the L.A. guys shows...what, exactly? John H. also leaves sad, realizing that his fear of being booted off first had come true.

After watching the season-long preview montage, it looks like this is shaping up to be a sizzling, drama-filled season. Will Jillian find her next husband in the 20 men remaining?

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 9/8c on ABC.

(Image courtesy of ABC)

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