Living for free in Rome is a bitch

We just want to know… are the people in charge of “The Bachelor” joking? Really? Are they kidding? Because this season is making us lose complete faith in the authenticity of reality TV shows. Especially ones that are meant to end in marriage.

Our faith is being tested because on last night’s episode of “The Bachelor”, Prince Hottie Lorenzo actually offered a rose to native Houstonian Erica. This upsets us because we really think Erica is a horrid representative for Houston, not to mention the female persuasion as a whole. Early in the show, still sporting her tiara, she went to the host, Chris Harrison (also from Texas), to bitch about the disappointing digs she and the other bachelorettes were put up in. The problems included a tiny room, having to share rooms, and no maid. No #&*$.

So then, our little Erica went on a group date with the prince and a few other girls. They went on a scooter ride around Rome. Erica claimed her license is expired, so she had to ride on the back of Lorenzo’s scooter. (Of course she does!) During the ride they had an awkward conversation about Erica’s past relationships. She told Lorenzo that she lost her virginity at 16, and that the guy “wasn’t nice”. For the rest of the date, the women get to pick out a cocktail dress and have drinks with Lorenzo. Once again, Erica and Lorenzo have another awkward conversation where she proceeds to put her foot in her mouth by judging the other women by their, er, breed and educational background. When Lorenzo tells her he is more concerned by someone’s integrity and their character than whether or not they came from a privileged life that allowed them to go to college, Erica is clearly taken aback and goes on to tell Lorenzo that she feels she can judge people and that she’s surprised he doesn’t. Watching this conversation is right up there with watching two teenagers on a first date. It’s incredibly uncomfortable. Lorenzo finally ends it by telling her they just don’t agree, and this upsets Erica. She cries. She twirls her hair. She all but stomps her feet in defiance and tells the camera how it isn’t fair, the she and Lorenzo are both special and should be together, because she was made to be a princess. Of course you were, hon.

When it came time for the rose ceremony, we had to wonder if Lorenzo had any recollection of those conversations with Princess Erica, because the guy gave her a rose! Again! Was he not actually present to hear her say that she feels she can judge people because she’s better than them? We suppose not. And on a side note, Texas City native Jami did get another rose, too.

Wait! We suddenly understand why “The Bachelor” producers want to keep Erica around. (We do assume it’s the producers making this happen, lest the bachelor be completely devoid of any actual common sense.) The girl really does make for good television. We just hope Lorenzo manages to keep his wits about him and pick someone in the end who doesn’t require a maid to pick up her skeevy drawers.

“The Bachelor: Rome” airs Monday nights on ABC.