As with the new format of the Bachelor/Bachelorette series, we started our around the world journey to find love with Ashley and her remaining 12 guys. First stop Thailand.

Having never been there myself I have to say that they didn't really make me want to jump up and buy a ticket either. Sure it was beautiful but on Ashley's first one-on-one date it rain the whole day.

Not that it would have mattered because all Ashley thought about was Bentley and why did he have to leave. I almost felt bad for Constantine and he worked to make their rained out date work and for the most part I thought that he did a good job but if you were watching really close you could see that Ashley wasn't completely in it. Which is some ways is to be expected. After all how many of us are really into our first date back after a break up? Even with the unsure chemistry he still managed to get a rose and stay safe through next week.

Next up was the required "we give back" date. This season Ashley and the bachelors got together and helped clean and decorate an orphanage for children that were left parent-less after the Tsunami. It was great to see them giving of their time as always and you could almost forget that they were there competing for a girl; I said almost. Let the Ryan bashing begin.

The whole time every man on the date seemed to talk about how annoying Ryan P. was. How he acted when Ashley wasn't around, how he was always "on" for the cameras, and how he was really getting on everyone's nerves. Now personally he kinda got on my nerves in the fact that I'm not sure if I saw him lift a hand to actually do any work while there but maybe the cameras just missed it. I did see him giving orders and taking as if he was the foreman of the job and not just as involved as the other men. To me that was a bit much but as I said maybe the cameras just missed it.

Finally there was my favorite date of the week; Ames. Let me tell you I have not found him at all attractive or interesting the whole time that he has been on the show. I thought he seemed stuffy and a little condescending. That was until they ended up in the middle of rock formation laying on the beach and having dinner. So far I think he had the most intelligent and insightful answers to any questions asked during the show. His answers made sense and he seemed to understand that this wasn't a love at first sight event or even that it wouldn't take work after the cameras stopped. After the date even Ashley admitted that she was seeing him in a whole other light.

As if the week wasn't long enough, I didn't even begin to mention the countless other times she mentioned Bentley, then we had to go into another rose ceremony. Again Chris Harrison was there to sit Ashley down and talk to her before she made her picks. Although this was something that he use to do regularly it seemed that in the last few seasons these heart to hearts have been few and far between. Yet with Ashley this was the second one of the season and we are only at week 4. Chris might need to get a bonus for this season if things continue on this path.

Ashley did surprise me in the end and asked for an additional rose for the night so that instead of sending the normal two men home she was only sending one. I don't know if that makes the poor guy that got sent home feel better or worse that she kept everyone but him but I thought it was interesting.

The show ended with a preview that suggested Bentley makes a return next week but here's hoping that they are just pulling our chain. I'm not sure I could take much more of the Bentley drama.

*Photos provided by Google.

Unlike most girls that grew up in the late 80's and early 90's I'm not a big Tom Cruise fan. I don't mind his movies and have seen most of them but I'm not one of those that just has to rush out and see his movies cause I think he is God's gift or anything like that. Do I think he can act? Yes but I think that his over-all annoying real personality somewhat overshadows his acting cred.

Yet I do like Cameron Diaz so when Knight and Day came out I didn't rush to see it but waited somewhat patiently for the DVD. Once it was out I rented it came home popped it in and was less than impressed. There were some funny moments and a few that made me smile even if I didn't laugh. It held my interest and that was really all I was looking for. Back then it probably wouldn't really have made my review list.

Then last week it came on cable for the first time. With nothing to do on a Saturday (I hate admitting that) I decided to give it a second look and was surprised to find myself cracking up. Maybe it was cause I was bored or maybe it was because I didn't pay anything for it this time but it was actually hilarious. It made me really re-think how I felt about it.

In cause your not familiar let me give you an overview. Cruise plays an federal agent that could be crazy, could be a traitor or could be the best agent there is out there. Diaz is the woman who gets on the wrong plane and attracts attention from the wrong people and the right attention from Cruise. Together they travel around trying to make things right and get her home for her sister's wedding while the viewer tries to figure out if he is really telling her the truth or if he is using her to get away with something bad.

My opinion on this one is torn. I do think that if you did see it in the theater or on DVD that you might want to give it a second look but I'm still not sure that you should rent it. I guess I would say if you can find it on cable go for it but don't go out if your way to find it. I think that might have been my mistake the first time.

Another week; another round of the Bachelorette. Yes my dears Ashley continued her search for love and marriage last night with a flash mob, a roast, and a half-hearted goodbye. Whoever said romance was dead clear was a fan of the Bachelorette.

First off lets start as Ashley did with a flash mob surprise date in the park. Can I just say the thing that surprises me is how much Ashley has danced in the last two episodes. You would think that she was a professional dancer and not a dentist by the moves she has been throwing. When Tenley was on the Bachelorette she could shut up about her dancing and even treated Jake to a special personal dance on his hometown date. Yet with Ashley she never once that I can remember mentioned dancing to Brad. Now three months later she is all Cirque du Soleil; I personally don't get it but I digress.

Anyway, after surprising Ben with the flash mob they went on to have yet another musical live performance. I thought they would be done after last week with not just Cobie Caillat but the Jabbawockeez's but I guess not. And they were such a talented group that I already forgot their names :D.

On to dinner for our lovebirds where Ben started talking about the kind of love that he wanted in his life. At one point I think he actually used the line "love in a bubble"; What the heck? I am all for hopeless romantics and mad passionate love but really. There was just so much that he was saying that in my opinion was completely unrealistic that I was a little surprised when Ashley told him it sounded a lot like what she was looking for. That also might explain why most of the Bachelor/Bachelorette couples don't work. Over the top ideas.

The next day (or however long it is in Bachelorette time) the group date went to a comedy club where Ashley clued the guys in on the fact that they would be roasting her.

William who most everyone really liked after last week took it not so much as a date and a chance to further his relationship with Ashley so much as an audition for "Last Comic Standing". Apparently he didn't get the memo that he was on the Bachelorette. Badum

Moving right along, the guys went up and of course William was last. His jokes fell faster than a Playboy centerfolds top and at one point at the end someone in the audience yelled out "too soon". Cause it would have been better to for him to wait until week seven and then joke that he might have wanted Emily or Chantal more. That would have been better.

After that disaster all William could say for himself is that maybe he should go home; not even an apology and we were all waiting but nothing. He ran away from the party and then sat outside saying how he wished he could have another chance but we never saw him actually go to Ashley and ask for one. What we did see was Bentley using the opportunity to win Ashley over more even as he admitted off camera that he felt the same as Williams joke.

Waking up the next morning Bentley decided that since he didn't get the rose on the group date he would pout like any spoiled brat and go home citing that he missed his daughter too much to stay.

Okay I am probably going to catch some for this but I actually appreciated the way that Bentley left. Sure he didn't give Ashley the closer that she needed and he basically lied or half-truthed his way out the door but he also didn't crush her as much as he could have.

We all know that she has major insecurities and if he had told her that the idea of marrying her was worse than swimming in pee or that he would have been happier if it was Emily cause that was who he wanted he would have destroyed her. After the night that she had had before and then for him to say such a thing, in my opinion would have made it impossible for her to continue on with the show. She would have been second guessing everything that every one of the guys said. There would have been no way that she could open up and trust the way that she should have. Yes he was a complete butt head but at least he left and he didn't take the rest of the season with him. Besides I think that confrontation will be so much better on the men tell all.

Finally we had Jeff. O Jeff *sigh*. There just aren't words.

This week he FINALLY took that silly mask off and what did he get for it? Sent home. Yes, the mask came off and the bags got packed. Not so much in that order but in the end he had to go. I don't think it was completely do to the fact that once the mask came off he was just plain or in Ashley's words "older than she thought" but I do think that he lost some of his appeal without it. I know I for one was like over it by the time it came off.

So another episode is in the bag and we are down to twelve. Next week they are suppose to start their world wind tour to win Ashley's heart. First stop Thailand. See ya next week.

*Some pictures courtesy of ABC

Tonight two of USA's best shows have their season premiere; White Collar and Covert Affairs. This past weekend I spend watching marathons getting caught up and it made me think.

As you already know I watch a lot of television and lately most of it has been on cable as apposed to the normal network shows (ABC,CBS,NBC). To me there seems to be more variety with on TNT, USA, Lifetime and even the movie channels like HBO and Starz then on what you see on two through thirty. Yet unlike those traditional channels cable as a different schedule. For the most part it seems like you get about eight to ten episodes per seasonal run and then you have to wait a few months to a year for the next eight to ten. That is where my quandary came in. Is that really better than a full 22 episode season through half the year?

With your known shows like Law & Order, CSI, or House then you know come late August early September they will get started and will finish off with a big finale in mid May. You can set you clocks, VCRs or DVRs by it because it's the same every year. They are going to take a break sometime in November and December for the holidays and be back that first week in January . That is just how it is.

Yet with cable, their seasons start whenever. Sure there maybe a system to it all but I haven't found it. Some shows seem like they start a new season almost every two months while others like tonight Covert Affairs took a year to start season 2 despite their main actor, Piper Perabo, being nominated for a Golden Globe. I could really almost swear the Closer has had three seasons during the same time frame and Kyra Sedgwick was also nominated so that can't be it.

Whatever the reason I really like the cable shows and their diversity way more but in my opinion I think they need a better schedule. Something that is easier to follow and makes more sense. Is it a seniority thing or just a ratings decision? No matter what it is I am just glad that some of my favorites are coming back for the summer and I can't wait for tonight.

Alright so as you know I have been saying that there will be a new blog address coming soon since the beginning of the year. Well, it is officially here thanks in large part to my cousins.

I got a call this morning asking for my blog address so that they could follow as as I was typing it out I started thinking how the other one just really, really didn't go anymore and that it should have been changed when I changed the name and format of the blog. So instead of sweeping it under the rug AGAIN I actually went in and changed it. Yeah me!

That being said here is the new address for the blog:

http://strictlymyown.blogspot.com

There you go.

Update all your information and I look forward the opinions rolling in. Catch ya later.

Where I would normally go through and talk about the dates that happened on this weeks episode I really want to talk about the episode as it would be in real life.

First the highlights. William, who is absolutely adorable, got the first date of the season and was whisked off to Las Vegas for a wedding elopement style date and lets be real. There is no guy that would elope with any woman on a first date and what girl puts that kind of pressure on a guy. Still I will say that I was laughing right off my bed as it happened.

Second was the group date where they stayed in Vegas and got a chance to dance with the Jabbawockez's from "America's Best Dance Crew". As a personal fan of theirs I was excited to see them get the advertisement and more than a little bummed that I didn't know they had their own show in Vegas. Must check it out. The guys were split into two groups and the winning group got to stay and party in Vegas after performing for a sold out audience with the Jabba's while the losing group were flown home.

Lastly there was the second one on one that ended up being a coin toss between JP and Mikey (sorry if I am spelling it wrong). Mikey won and again was flown to Vegas where Ashley let the coin toss decide everything from the wine to if he got the rose and a kiss. It seemed to work in his favor because he won them all and if I was him I would be keeping that coin if for nothing else good luck.

Alright that is about the highlights of the episode and now I can get down to the two topics that I want to talk about: Reality and Producers.

Look we all know that even though the term is "reality tv" that not everything is one hundred percent real. But that isn't what I meant when I said reality. What I'm talking about is everyday, run of the mill, life.

On Ashley's date with William once they got past the wedding that wasn't they went to dinner. Now while many people have gone to dinner in Vegas post, pre or no where near marriage most of them have not had dinner in the middle of the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel. Are you serious? I know that as a television show they have a standard to live up to and that again there is little real in "reality" but come on. How do you follow that up once the show as ended?

This is one of my problems with the Bachelor/Bachelorette. They send people on these amazing around the world dates and then when the camera's stop rolling they expect them to life out normal life when there has been nothing normal about their relationship up to that point. Yes they have to give an air of extravagance but for most people dinner in the Bellagio might be considered extravagant. Especially if they were in a penthouse suite or something to that effect. It just gets to be too much on occasion and I wonder if all the over the top dates don't contribute to the life expectancy of a television romance post cameras.

My next issue that I have an opinion on is the producers and Bentley.

I am sure that when he auditioned, or whatever it is that they do to be on the show, he didn't open up about his obsession with Emily or that he wouldn't be interested if it was Ashley. I would like to hope that if he did then they would never have allowed him on the show. That being said, are they hearing the same crap that I am?

I know that villainy makes for great television. Just look at how Michelle Money was portrayed last season (although I did love her) or others in seasons past but again this is suppose to be "real". Okay so he didn't say half or any of what he is saying now to you back then and yes Ashley has free will and despite the warning that she received she has kept him on; but come on. At some point you either need to shut him up or clue her in. This is suppose to be a show about finding love and whether your track record is 0 and 100 or 12 and 12 (neither are correct for the Bachelor series) you would think that you would want to at least look like you are trying to help that along.

When Jake was all about Rozlyn who "supposedly" had an inappropriate relationship with some one on staff they didn't care then. They pulled her aside and on camera no less and sent her packing. Now they have someone that is not only admitting to having no feelings whatsoever about the Bachelorette on camera and basically talking about playing her and they do nothing but air it. Even Wes from Jillian's season wasn't that bold or stupid as everyone was accusing him of having a girlfriend. He waited until he had been sent home to admit his short comings.

All in all, this episode really bothered me for those two reasons. Next week it looks like Bentley is finally going to come clean and I can't wait to see how that plays out and if it makes for the great television I'm sure the producers are hoping it does.

Stolen kisses, Phantom of the Opera, Drunken stupors, real tears and ladies and gentlemen this was all in the first night. It seems this season of the Bachelorette is gearing up to be as they all promise "the most controversial season yet".:P Ashley H. is back and if you are a Bachelor or Bachelorette watcher then you were glued to the television Monday night.

When we first met Ashley she was a sweet blonde girl looking for love but scared to open up. Now in her very own season she has dyed the hair, changed the attitude and she is ready to take on 25 hot, hot bachelors in the hopes of getting that all important marriage proposal at the end.

Last night started as most new seasons do. Ashley talking about the mistakes she has made while clips of her past relationship with Brad popped in and out. And in true fashion as the music picked up so did she. She went on to talk about how excited she was to be back and how she was more open to love this time and ready for this amazing adventure. Truly if you have seen one Bachelorette then you have seen them all.

Enter Chris Harrison, the limos and the awkward five second meet and greets. I sometimes wish they would just let the men or women arrive and then let the bachelor or bachelorette walk in on the cocktail party already in full swing. Those few minutes of people trying to introduce themselves while standing out are just painful to watch sometimes.

Moving right along, the cocktail party. Yes as always there was drama between a few of the guys. Mainly Jeff, who wore a mask for the WHOLE evening, and the others that found the mask stupid as did most of us. I appreciate the message and the idea behind it (he wants her to get to know the real him without worrying about looks) but really? Come on man. There had to have been a better way to present it.

Then there was Tim who apparently had to get drunk to get up the courage to go on a blind date

with 24 other guys on national television. When said that way I think I know a few guys that would have been three sheets to the wind too. I was pulling for him to turn it around until he fell asleep on the couch out by the pool and then like Ashley I was like dude you have to go. You also have to give the producers credit for that one. I don't think that has ever happen in all their seasons. Way to go! :)

Finally there was Bentley. A gentleman who openly said that he wanted the bachelorette to be Emily or at least he openly said it to the cameras. What he said to Ashley was how he was excited to be there and looking forward to getting to know her. Now a lot of people are upset because she gave him a rose at the end considering a "friend" had told her before hand that he was only coming on to further his career (did Wes not teach men anything? We hate those guys).

However, I can see where she was coming from. You want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and from what he was saying he sounded sincere. The previews for the season to show a different take on it but heartbreak is what makes for good TV after all.

Overall, I wasn't impressed or not impressed with the men lined up for Ashley. There were a few that I really liked. Ryan P. who does something with solar energy and also got the first impression rose was really cute. I also liked the one that called his mom for her to talk to; that was sweet. A friend of mine is all about JP who did seem almost southern gentlemanly. Truth is that really it has only been one episode and an hour of listening to them. Way to soon to tell.

Either way, my opinion, is that Ashley is going to have her hands full and like every other season before there will be a ridiculous amount of tears spilled and in the end she will claim that she is happier than she has ever been in her life. Can't wait to see it all unfold.

*Pictures courtesy of ABC