Dish Of Salt: Tuesday TV Dish (Inside ‘The Bachelor’ Special)

I already know a lot of the inside details about what goes on behind the scenes on the “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” from various sources culled over the years. However, I was stilled glued to the TV last night for “20/20’s” special, “Inside The Bachelor: Stories Behind The Rose.” While I didn’t expect to learn much from it, I’m sure fans of the show (not in the know) found out some juicy tidbits they weren’t aware of. I will admit it was highly entertaining. Plus, it finally confirmed some of the things I have been writing about all these years. Here’s some of what we learned.

– Mary Delgado is still in love with her former “Bachelor” beau Byron Velvick, despite their stormy relationship. The couple got engaged on the Season 6 finale of the show and began a romance. However, Mary was arrested in 2007 for punching Byron in the mouth, which he confirmed finally on last night’s “20/20.” The couple remained together after the incident but finally ended their romance in December 2009. Last night, Mary told reporter Deborah Roberts, “The biggest regret is not marrying the man that I am in love with. I know it’s strange to hear that after everything, but I still love him very much.”

– There is always plenty of alcohol on hand. Creator Mike Fleiss admitted, “Champagne, tequila, beer, red wine, white wine. I don’t think it plays any more of a role than it does in [regular] dating situations. Just in general, it plays a role.” Clearly, boredom plays a factor in the consumption of alcohol since there is no TV, no music and no Internet allowed in the house. Season 4 contestant Estella Gardnier laughed at how a typical day involved waking up and mixing up some margarita’s followed later by more margaritas.

– Matt Grant from “The Bachelor: London Calling” was bought new teeth by production before he began filming the show at a cost of around $20,000!

– The girls have to do their own hair and makeup on the show. They also have to cook for themselves and clean up.

– Contestants have had sex on the show. It seems only likely that if you are going to pop the question, you should have probably tested out the merchandise, right? Fleiss explained, “There’s not a ton of it. I think the average is, the guy will end up having sex with three women during the course of the show.” From what I’ve heard it’s always the three people on the fantasy dates. Then again, who knows because Fleiss let it slip that Bob Guiney had sex with five women on his season. Actually he said five and a half. I’ll let you figure out what the half means.

– Melissa Rycroft was not initially attracted to Jason Mesnick when she met him during season 13. She says the circumstances of being in the confines of the show are what made her fall for him. She also admitted that she was angry at the producers for letting Jason blindside her on the “After The Final Rose” taping that he wanted to get back together with Molly Malaney, his second choice. She was only told that they were going to publicly end their relationship.

– Season 11 bachelor Brad Womack became a recluse after his season aired (and he decided to dump both women on the finale.) In his first interview since the debacle, Brad said he went into seclusion and had some social anxiety problems because so many people attacked him for his decision.

– The male contestants on “The Bachelorette” have no problems getting dates after they are on the show. Reid Rosenthal from Jillian Harris’s season admitted that after the show, girls came right up to him now. He is currently dating Miss USA 2009, Kristen Dalton.

For more tidbits you can check out the special on Hulu. Watch the show HERE