by David McAlpine

ABC's popular dating reality show The Bachelor is back for it's 14th season (can you believe it?), this time with for suitor and self-described perfect man Jake Pavelka, America's sexiest commercial pilot. Now, the tables are turned and he's the one looking for a wife amongst 25 beautiful bachelorettes on The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love.

Ever since he was dumped by Jillian, Jake moved back to Dallas and has since tried to pick up his life one piece at a time. Even though he was hurt, he says he knew he wasn't engineered to be alone.

Jake says he had a great upbringing, a supportive family, and now he owns a nice home, he's advanced in his career, but of course it means nothing unless he has someone to share it with. And now's his chance to find that someone. Jake says he didn't think he'd be 31 and single (and anyone who takes a look at him would probably agree), but he's convinced to prove that nice guys don't finish last.

Meanwhile, the 25 lucky ladies are busy packing up and moving to LA, hoping to capture Jake's heart. Among some of the contestants are thrill seeker Alexa, who makes thinks riding motorcycles is near orgasmic, Tenley, a professional dancer who performed in Tokyo Disneyland for 9 months as Ariel, Elizabeth, a captain in the National Guard, Vienna, a 23 year-old spoiled daddy's girl and Ella, a 29 year-old with a 7 year-old son.

Ready to find love and convinced that the show works because of Jason and Molly and Jillian and Ed (note: neither of whom are married), Jake gets ready to meet the ladies.

Rozlyn is the first to step out and tells Jake that her name means little rose. Ali is next and she gives him a peacock feather, because that's how peacocks try and attract mates. Jessie is next and she asks Jake if his guns are registered…cue eyeroll. Tenley is next out of the limo and she seems very quiet and clearly taken by Jake. Ella is very straightforward and does a playful joke with Jake's nose. She's a little too forward though, telling Jake he's looking at his next wife--I mean come on, that's just weird.

Kathryn is next and, even though she's a corporate flight attendant (instant connection?), she really has nothing to say. Kaitlyn is next and just gushes over how cute Jake is. Elizabeth (the National Guard captain) is after and flips a coin, saying that if it's heads, she stays and if it's tails, she leaves. Of course, she gets heads…because it's a double-sided coin. Alexa tells Jake about her Harley, while Vienna seems completely devoid of conversation and just wants to feel Jake's abs.

Corrie is next and she seems very quiet and already projects about their hometown date--too soon. Kimberly (ho's from Oklahoma) makes a crack about college football, while Valishia gives him some soil from Texas to remind him that they have common ground. Gia talks about her hair salon, Elizabeth (the nanny) tries to picture his favorite place with him and Channy, who is the Asian equivalent of Fran Drescher, woos him with some Cambodian.

Ashley is next and admits she's horrible at picking good men, then comes Tiana, who admits to watching The Bachelorette with all of her friends and picking out Jake as her husband. Christina brings jellybeans for all the girls as parting gifts since she's sure she's staying, and Ashleigh seems fairly drunk and can't stop laughing.

Next is Kristen, who calls Jillian stupid, followed by Stephanie who wants the first dance with Jake (since she's a dance teacher). Sheila, a pilot, steps out of the limo wearing some sexy aviators for Jake since the two together are a pair of aviators. Ha! Michelle is last, making the kiddie airplane arms as she exits her limo.

So after the parade of women, most of whom look way too young or way too fake for Jake, I highly questioned my desire to watch this season. But then I took the time to think about the ones I liked: Elizabeth (the National Guard captain), Sheila, Ali, Valishia and Alexa.

Chris Harrison tells Jake and the ladies that a first impression rose is up for grabs and the cocktail party begins. After some small talk, the 1-on-1 time starts becoming a hot commodity between all the ladies. Ali is the first to get alone time (yes!), but she trips and rips her dress. She also tells Jake she hasn't gotten in a plane for eight years because she's afraid of flying. Great.

Channy finally explains what she said in Cambodian: "You can land you plane on my landing strip anytime." Right, like she's staying. Christina notices how much cleavage is in the room and I add her to my "like" list. After Ella talks to Jake about her 7 year-old son, Ethan, Ashley comes downstairs in a very skimpy flight attendant costume…then proceeds to talk about the Ph.D. she's working on. Irony? I think so.

Elizabeth (the nanny) brings a football and starts playing catch with Jake, which turns into a full-blown game: blondes vs. brunettes. It's at least more entertaining to watch than all the small talk, that's for sure. Meanwhile, Michelle is freaking out because she's not getting any alone time with him. Her confessionals just spell desperate, there's no other way of putting it.

Vienna gets Jake to put his hands all over her body, Kathryn claims she has a fake fiancee, Stephanie tries to teach Jake to cha cha, and Michelle still sits in silence, stewing because she hasn't had alone time with the man of the hour. Again, I must emphasize the desperation comment.

Chris Harrison comes back to introduce some friends brought back to help Jake weed out the pack: Ed and Jillian. My finger is hovering over the power button at this point, because they are the last people I wanted to see. The last. But they get notebooks and start grilling all the girls as if they're relationship experts. Yeah, go tell that to Us Weekly. One of their questions: "What kind of animal would you be in the bed?" Riveting, grilling and hard-hitting--what a great job.

Tenley sits down with Jake and tells him 10 things he should know about her, then she kisses him on the lips. Afterwards, she starts to freak because the last guy she was with was her ex-husband, and she didn't think she was ready to kiss.

Back to Ed and Jillian, who like Elizabeth (the nanny), Ella, Sheila and Kathryn. They don't, however, like Michelle because she's so desperate. However, Jake decides to throw all caution to the wind and give the first impression rose to Tenley, which I'll say is acceptable, I'm growing to like her. Cut to Michelle, who is confident she's staying.

After a quick chat with Chris in the deliberation room, Jake begins the rose ceremony and gives roses to:

Ella, Elizabeth (nanny), Ali, Vienna, Christina, Gia, Ashley, Rozlyn, Jessie, Corrie, Valishia, Ashleigh, Kathryn and…Michelle (producer's pick?).

This means the 10 women eliminated were: Sheila (mistake #1--he's a pilot!), Elizabeth, the National Guard captain (mistake #2--she's normal!), Alexa (mistake #3--he loves motorcycles!) Tiana, Emily, Kimberly, Kaitlyn, Channy, Kristen and Stephanie.

Tune in to ABC next week when the drama heats up as a scandal rocks the mansion on The Bachelor, Monday at 9/8c.

(Photo courtesy of ABC)

SEE ALSO

The Bachelor: On The Wings Of Love - The Scandalous Contestant Revealed

Follow David on Twitter: @DavidMcAlpine

For more The Bachelor Links visit Sirlinksalot.net