Season 16 of “The Bachelorette” premiered Tuesday night with Clare Crawley, who is a groundbreaking leading lady at 39 years old.
But aside from the viewers tuning in for the outspoken, California-based hairstylist, many will likely have their eyes peeled on the men vying for her heart, which leads us to wonder: What do producers look for when casting men for these highly-coveted spots?
Just by looking at the men this season, most are fit, attractive, and between ages 26 to 40. The wider age range may be due to having a “Bachelorette” who for the first time in the franchise is in her late ’30s, but anyone over 21 is eligible to apply.
However, what do producers look for aside from, well, good looks?
Eligibility requirements
According to Bachelor Nation’s official website, all applicants must reside in either the U.S. or Canada, and cannot be a current political candidate or running for office until at least one year after the last episode airs.
Applicants must also be “single” which, according to the website, is defined as “not currently be involved in a committed intimate relationship, which includes: any marital relationship (whether or not the parties are separated or currently in the process of divorcing or annulling such marriage); any co-habitation relationship involving physical intimacy; or a monogamous dating relationship more than two (2) months in duration.”
However, this rule has been broken a few times — perhaps to stir up some drama for TV, including when it was discovered that Jed Wyatt, Hannah Brown’s finalist and ex-fiancé, had a girlfriend while filming for the show.
Other regulations include not having a family member that works for one of the show’s production companies. Contestants with a criminal record will also be denied.
How to apply
Once the producers have deemed a person “eligible,” candidates can either submit a video or go to an open casting call at a city near their hometown.
Currently, casting for “The Bachelor” is underway, according to the Bachelor Nation website, and the women’s applications ask questions range from “What is your highest level of education?” to “Have you ever had a temporary restraining order issued against someone or had one issued against you?”
The questionnaire also requests that applicants submit anywhere from five to 15 pictures of themselves. It states, “Be sure to include some good close-ups shots and full body pics.”
If you’re more on the timid side and not likely to apply for a reality show yourself, a good pal who wants to help you find love can also nominate you through the “Bachelor” franchise’s online application portal.
Contestants who are selected during the application process will be interviewed by producers and semi-finalists meet casting directors in Los Angeles.
Casting directors’ deal-breakers
While in California, applicants will submit even more forms, which include a medical history form and authorization, general release and indemnity agreement, confidentiality agreement, and a background check authorization form.
Ben Hatta, [creator and executive producer] Mike Fleiss’s old assistant, revealed in “Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure” the one STD that keeps most contestants from coming on the show.
“As soon as the medical tests came back, you’d see that herpes was the biggest thing,” he said. “And sometimes you’d be the first person to tell a contestant that they had herpes. You’d be like, ‘Uh, you should call your doctor.’ Why? ‘We’re not going to be able to have you on our show, but you should call your doctor.’”
And although big personalities are welcome, the psychological tests are “stringent.”
“We lose a lot of great potential characters because we’re so tough and stringent,” Hatta added. “Anyone who has any sort of borderline personality disorder or instability or any sort of past involving contemplation of suicide — we just can’t take the risk. We just don’t.”