Here to Make Friends: Bachelor/ette recaps with a side of social justice commentary
The Premise (from Apple Podcasts):
A HuffPost Podcast about The Bachelor, where hosts Emma Gray and Claire Fallon lovingly snark and recap the latest episodes from The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Whether you love The Bachelor, or love to hate it, you will enjoy their witty discussion about this reality show and what it reveals about the world of dating.
Series or standalone:
Standalone
Begin listening to:
Any episode, as long as you've watched the TV episode first. I suppose it's not a requirement to actually watch the episodes, but I always do.
Format:
Discussion/chat/recap
Host(s):
Emma Gray and Claire Fallon
Sound/production quality:
Very good
Rating/age suitability:
It's probably about as appropriate for your child to listen to as it is for them to watch The Bachelor show itself--so that's very much up to you.
Approximate length of episodes:
90 minutes
Curricular ties:
n/a
Similar recommended pods:
My top favorite Bachelor/ette recap show is Rose Pricks, which is funnier version of this podcast.
Podcast Librarian’s Review:
This is a weekly podcast from HuffPost that airs whenever there is a Bachelor or Bachelorette season airing. A new season just started this week featuring new bachelor Matt James. More than just a recap, the hosts talk about the aspects of the show that have to do with social issues, like race (this past season of The Bachelorette and this current season of The Bachelor are the first to star black people, which is embarrassing because the show began in 2002--though actually both of them are biracial, which is a whole other conversation). Historically, this pod has always focused on the show from a feminist lens (it even has an evergreen segment called “Feminism Fails,” which, if you’ve seen any Bachelor-adjacent shows, you won’t be shocked to learn is never lacking in material).
Overall, I enjoy the recaps, though I think the hosts hold back on their opinions sometimes (especially because they often interview Bachelor "celebs" on the show--so they can't be too mean). As they say in the intro, it's a show for people who legitimately, unironically love The Bachelor--those people do exist, right?--as well as people who just love to hate-watch it (*raises hand*). I sometimes chuckle at their observations, but it's not a comedy podcast, per se. Still, I like how this pod talks about social issues because, as a former English major and almost-English-teacher (a story for another day), it somewhat reminds me of feminist literary criticism or conversations that you would have in school--if you discussed trashy reality TV in English class. I do listen to HTMF most weeks as it is my second favorite Bachelor/ette recap show (Rose Pricks is first).
