The Bachelor (American TV series) season 13 explained

Season Number:13
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Starring:Jason Mesnick
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Num Contestants:25
Runner Up:Molly Malaney
Network:ABC
Num Episodes:11 (including 3 specials)
Episode List:List of The Bachelor (American TV series) episodes

The thirteenth season of ABC reality television series The Bachelor premiered on January 5, 2009, and featured 32-year-old single parent Jason Mesnick from Kirkland, Washington. Mesnick was the runner-up of season four of The Bachelorette featuring DeAnna Pappas. He became the second former The Bachelorette suitor to compete on The Bachelor since Bob Guiney of season 1 of The Bachelorette and season 4 of The Bachelor.[1]

The season concluded on March 2, 2009, with Mesnick choosing to propose to 25-year-old sales rep Melissa Rycroft. However, during the After The Final Rose special Mesnick broke up with Rycroft after realizing he was still in love with runner-up Molly Malaney. Mesnick and Malaney married in February 2010 and currently live in Washington with Mesnick's son and their daughter.[2] [3] [4] Rycroft went on to marry Tye Strickland and have three children together.[5] [6] [7]

This was the first season Neil Lane Couture sponsoring the jewelry line for this season, replacing Tacori.[8]

Contestants

Biographical information according to ABC official series site, plus footnoted additions

NameAgeHometownOccupationOutcomePlace
Melissa Rycroft[9] 25Dallas, TexasSales RepresentativeWinner1
Molly Malaney[10] 24Brookfield, WisconsinDepartment Store BuyerRunner-Up2
Jillian Harris29Peace River, AlbertaInterior DesignerWeek 73
Naomi Crespo[11] 24Carlsbad, CaliforniaFlight AttendantWeek 64
Stephanie Hogan[12] 34Huntsville, AlabamaMedical Marketing RepresentativeWeek 55
Lauren Wanger27Marlboro, New JerseyTeacherWeek 46–8
Megan Parris[13] 25Sewickley, PennsylvaniaLacrosse Coach
Shannon Bair[14] 29Marshall, MissouriDental Hygienist
Nikki Kaapke[15] 29Blue Island, IllinoisAdministrative Assistant9
Erica DeSimone25Monroe, ConnecticutAccount ExecutiveWeek 310–11
Kari Fajen[16] 27Lee's Summit, MissouriAccount Executive
Natalie Getz[17] 27Morton, IllinoisHuman Resources Recruiter12
Raquel Medeiros[18] 27Recife, PernambucoMedical StudentWeek 213–14
Sharon Staebell[19] 32Batavia, New YorkTeacher
Lisa Gonzalez[20] 28Boise, IdahoPublic Relations Associate15 (quit)
Ann Lueders24Phoenix, ArizonaFlight AttendantWeek 116–25
Dominique Carta26Mount Carmel, PennsylvaniaMedical Sales Representative
Emily June23Seattle, WashingtonCasino Marketing Representative
Jackie Hickley26Springfield, MassachusettsWedding Coordinator
Julie Dermotta26Columbus, OhioTeacher
Nicole Mah25Calgary, AlbertaMenswear Buyer
Renee Simlak36Southfield, MichiganJewelry Designer
Shelby Callas23Stockton, CaliforniaAccount Executive
Stacia Mann24Orem, UtahCharity Accountant
Treasure Morgan28Salt Lake City, UtahNurse Practitioner

Future appearances

The Bachelorette

Jillian Harris was chosen as the lead of the fifth season of The Bachelorette.

Bachelor Pad

Natalie Getz and Nikki Kaapke returned for the first season of Bachelor Pad. Nikki was eliminated in week 5, while Natalie won the season alongside Bachelorette season 5 contestant David Good.

Dancing with the Stars

Melissa Rycroft competed in the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, replacing an injured Nancy O'Dell and partnering with Tony Dovolani. She finished in 3rd place. Melissa would compete again in the all-star season of Dancing with the Stars and was partnered with Tony again. They were later announced as winners.

Other appearances

Outside of the Bachelor Nation franchise, Natalie appeared as a contestant in the Bachelors vs. Bachelorettes special on the season 7 of Wipeout.

Call-out order

OrderBachelorettesWeek
12345678
1LaurenNikkiJillianStephanieMollyJillianMollyMelissaMelissa
2KariMeganMelissaJillianNaomiMelissaJillianMollyMolly
3MelissaLaurenMollyMollyStephanieMollyMelissaJillian
4SharonKariMeganLaurenMelissaNaomiNaomi
5NatalieNaomiNikkiMelissaJillianStephanie
6NaomiNatalieLaurenNaomiLauren
Megan
Shannon
7MeganMollyNaomiShannon
8StaciaRaquelStephanieNikki
9JackieStephanieKariMeganNikki
10LisaMelissaNatalieErica
Kari
11StephanieJillianShannon
12TreasureShannonEricaNatalie
13RaquelLisaRaquel
Sharon
14ShelbySharon
15NikkiErica
16MollyAnn
Dominique
Emily
Jackie
Julie
Nicole
Renee
Shelby
Stacia
Treasure
17Erica
18Nicole
19Renee
20Jillian
21Dominique
22Emily
23Julie
24Ann
25Shannon

The contestant received the first impression rose.

The contestant was originally voted off by the other women, but received a rose instead.

The contestant received a rose during the date.

The contestant was eliminated.

The contestant was eliminated during the date.

The contestant quit the competition.

The contestant won the competition.

Episodes

See also: List of The Bachelor (American TV series) episodes.

After the Final Rose

During the "After the Final Rose" special, which was taped six weeks after filming ended, and aired immediately after the season finale, Jason Mesnick told Chris Harrison that he felt the chemistry with Melissa changed and that he would break up with her and then ask Molly to give him another chance. Jason explained to Melissa how he was feeling. After some arguing, she then gave him his ring back, asked him to leave her alone, and left. During Chris' interview with Molly, she admitted she still loved Jason. Jason told Molly that he broke up with Melissa and that he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. He asked her if they could have another shot and he admitted that he still loved her. She agreed to "see where things go."

On the other hand, host Chris Harrison announced that Jillian became the next bachelorette for the fifth season of The Bachelorette and has insisted that the outcome was not manipulated by show producers to increase ratings.[21]

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen Ratings

EpisodeFirst Air DateRating
(18–49)
Share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
Rank
(timeslot)
Rank
(night)
1 January 5, 20093.188.74N/AN/A
2 January 12, 20093.289.06N/AN/A
3 January 19, 20093.699.95N/AN/A
4 January 26, 20094.01010.57N/AN/A
5 February 2, 20094.11011.02N/AN/A
6 February 9, 20094.21011.59N/AN/A
7 February 16, 20094.41012.52N/AN/A
8 February 23, 20093.71010.93N/AN/A
9 March 2, 20095.41315.48N/AN/A
10 March 2, 20096.71617.47N/AN/A
11 March 3, 20094.11010.90N/AN/A

Post-show

In the season finale, it was revealed that Jason had called off the engagement with Melissa and resumed a relationship with runner-up Molly.

Jason married Molly on February 27, 2010. In addition to his son with his ex-wife, Tyler (born January 25, 2005), Jason and Molly have one daughter together, Riley Anne (born March 14, 2013).

Melissa married Tye Strickland on December 12, 2009. Melissa and Tye have three children together, Ava Grace (born February 16, 2011), Beckett Thomas (born April 20, 2014), and Cayson Jack (born May 18, 2016).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland native Jason Mesnick gets his chance as 'The Bachelor'. The Plain Dealer. August 21, 2008. November 6, 2022.
  2. News: Joyce Eng . Bachelors Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney Get Engaged. TVGuide.com.
  3. Web site: It's Official: Bachelor's Jason And Molly Get Hitched!. People. Rizzo, Monica. February 27, 2010. February 23, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100502034220/http://tvwatch.people.com/2010/02/27/its-official-bachelors-jason-and-molly-get-hitched/. May 2, 2010.
  4. Web site: Jason and Molly Mesnick Welcome Daughter Riley Anne. People. Rizzo, Monica. March 14, 2013. February 23, 2015. September 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906064816/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/03/14/bachelor-jason-molly-mesnick-welcome-daughter-riley-anne/. dead.
  5. Web site: Melissa Rycroft Strickland Welcomes a Baby Girl!. Us Weekly. February 16, 2011. February 23, 2015.
  6. Web site: Melissa Rycroft Welcomes a Son. ABC. Messer, Lesley. April 21, 2014. February 23, 2015.
  7. Web site: Melissa Rycroft Pregnant, Expecting Third Child with Tye Strickland . 2023-04-02 . Peoplemag . en.
  8. The Bachelor season finale recap: This is (Not) Your Wife. Entertainment Weekly. Baldwin. Kristen. March 2, 2009. December 30, 2021.
  9. Web site: ABC reveals identities of 'Bachelor's thirteenth season bachelorettes . realitytvworld.com. 2016-01-01. 2008-12-18.
  10. Web site: Grand Rapids' Molly Malaney connects through golf with 'Bachelor' Jason Mesnick. Booth Newspapers. January 5, 2009. February 23, 2015.
  11. Web site: Model Mayhem.
  12. Web site: Huntsville Bachelorette Seeks Love On ABC's "The Bachelor". WAAY-TV. Huntsville, Alabama. February 23, 2015. January 7, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090109120313/http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9619004. January 9, 2009. dead. mdy-all.
  13. Web site: Sewickley Woman Is Contestant On ABC's 'Bachelor'. https://web.archive.org/web/20120224192035/http://www.wtae.com/entertainment/18306452/detail.html. February 24, 2012. WTAE-TV. December 18, 2008. February 23, 2015.
  14. Web site: Bair to appear on ABC's "The Bachelor". https://web.archive.org/web/20090130110858/http://marshallnews.com/story/1489715.html. January 30, 2009. Marshall Democrat-News. Stonner, Sydney. December 30, 2008. February 23, 2015.
  15. Web site: Blue Island woman on 'The Bachelor'.
  16. Web site: The Bachelor 13: Conference Call with Kari. 2014-07-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20140728234153/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-bachelor/the-bachelor-13-conference-cal-25875.aspx. 2014-07-28. dead.
  17. Web site: Exclusive Interview: Natalie Getz of 'The Bachelor' 13. 2014-07-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20140728232535/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-bachelor/exclusive-interview-natalie-ge-25903.aspx. 2014-07-28. dead.
  18. Web site: Brasileira da Flórida em rede nacional, no horário nobre. pt.
  19. Web site: Batavia 'Bachelor' hopeful makes debut tonight. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165940/http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2009/01/05/entertainment/5024805.txt. dead. 2016-03-03.
  20. Web site: Boise Native Tries to Win Bachelor's Heart on ABC.
  21. Web site: Exclusive! Bachelor Host Dishes on Shocking Finale . 2009-03-03. Dos Santos. Kristin. Kristin Dos Santos. 2009-03-03. E! Online - Watch with Kristin.