Season 13
Millions of viewers were stunned when DeAnna Pappas rejected Jason Mesnick's proposal, as he dropped to one knee to profess his love in the season finale of The Bachelorette.
Brokenhearted and wondering how he could have misjudged DeAnna's intentions, Jason's female fans flocked to support him, helping him heal from his very public dismissal.
Now this handsome single dad will star in his own bid for true love, choosing from among 25 bachelorettes when The Bachelor returns for the 13th edition of ABC's romance reality series.
Jason, 32, became a huge viewer favourite during the chase to win DeAnna's heart, and his popularity seemed to vault even higher when he lost out to Jesse Csincsak as fans rushed to e-mail him in droves, in total sympathy to his plight.
Jason still believes in destiny and that he can find love through The Bachelor, as he discovered when he fell for DeAnna.
His heart-warming story as a single father from Seattle with a three-year-old son, Ty - the apple of his eye - struck a chord with many women.
Divorced two years ago, Jason would like to start another family, himself the middle son in a family of three boys. His older brother, Sean, is married with children. Jason currently lives with his younger brother, Larry, and with Ty. His parents are divorced and both are happily remarried.
An account executive in estate and legacy planning, Jason is looking for a woman who has a real curiosity about the world, who loves life and can find passion in life's smallest moments.
Open and honest, the good-looking and appealing Bachelor loves a variety of sports, including swimming, golf, basketball and football. In fact he used to be a golf professional at a local club.
He has traveled all over Europe and continues to pursue his desire to see the world.
In his spare time, he takes guitar and swing dance lessons. Perhaps not surprisingly, Jason is a "big brother" for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. A philanthropist himself, he hopes to some day form and run his own children's charity.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jason moved to Washington at the age of eight and received his BA in psychology at the University of Washington.
For the first time ever in Bachelor history there will be single mothers in the hunt for the Bachelor.
These moms, who also juggle successful careers, will need to compete with 21 other stunners, including a Brazilian seductress who aggressively pursues the Bachelor, a woman who is one of Jason's biggest fans and thinks she knows him better than himself, a gorgeous pageant queen who can't wait for motherhood, a clever Canadian gal who wants to put Jason to an unusual test and a voluptuous free spirit who has her eye on Jason to fulfill her dream of a big, international-type family.
They all have their sights set on moving to Seattle with the new Bachelor, Jason Mesnick, and his son, Tyler.
Megan, Stacia, Stephanie and Treasure are the four single moms who are hoping the single dad and his son will complete their families. How will they shake up the chemistry of the group?
In the premiere episode, "1301," Jason prepares for the night of his life, as the 25 beautiful bachelorettes, who can think of nothing but him, begin to arrive.
Emily from Seattle tries to press her hometown advantage. Nikki, a statuesque brunette, wows Jason by telling him she only came "because it was you." Shannon admits she is Jason's biggest fan and her extensive knowledge of his life floors him.
Jillian finds a new way to "grill" a guy when she discloses that she can find out a lot about a man from the condiments he puts on his hot dog and puts Jason to the test on the spot.
Sharon admits that she quit her job as a school teacher for a chance to be with him, and Renee has already envisioned her happy future with Jason by creating a "vision board."
Tensions mount and sparks fly when the "first impression" rose is brought out by Chris Harrison. Raquel invites the Bachelor to join her in a seductive samba, but Molly, an all-American girl-next-door, steals him away for a hot slow jazz dance.
Stephanie, a beautiful widow, reveals the tragic story of her past, while a self-assured Lauren is confident that the rose is hers.
But the claws really come out when the women are asked to vote for which Bachelorette they want to leave that night.
Then Jason, in his first rose ceremony, must eliminate 10 of the 25 women, leaving 15 to compete for his affection and, in the end, his heart.
Hosted by Chris Harrison, "The Bachelor" is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.
Bachelorettes
The 25 bachelorettes appearing on The Bachelor 13 are:
Ann Lueders
A 24-year-old flight attendant from Phoenix, AZ
Dominique
A 26-year-old medical sales representative from Mt. Carmel, PA
Emily
A 23-year-old casino marketing representative from Seattle, WA
Erica DeSimone
A 25-year-old account executive from Monroe, CT
Jackie
A 26-year-old wedding coordinator from Dallas, TX
Jillian Harris
A 29-year-old interior designer from Peace River, Alberta, Canada
Julie Dermotta
A 26-year-old teacher from Columbus, OH
Kari Fajen
A 27-year-old advertising executive from Lee's Summit, MO
Lauren Wanger
A 27-year-old teacher from Malboro, NJ
Lisa Gonzalez
A 27-year-old public relations associate from Boise, ID
Megan Parris
A 25-year-old single mom and lacrosse coach from Sewickley, PA
Melissa Rycroft
A 25-year-old sales representative from Dallas, TX
Molly Malaney
A 24-year-old department store buyer from Grand Rapids, MI
Naomi Rose Crespo
A 24-year-old flight attendant from Carlsbad, CA
Natalie Getz
A 27-year-old human resources associate from Morton, IL
Nicole Mah
A 25-year-old menswear buyer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nikki Kaapke
A 29-year-old administrative assistant from Blue Island, IL
Raquel Medeiros
A 27-year-old medical student from Recife, Brazil
Renee Simlak
A 36-year-old jewelry designer from Los Angeles, CA
Shannon Bair
A 29-year-old dental hygienist from Marshall, MO
Sharon Staebell
A 32-year-old teacher from Batavia, NY
Shelby
A 23-year-old account executive from Stockton, CA
Stacia Mann
A 24-year-old single mom and a charity accountant from Orem, UT
Stephanie Hogan
A 34-year-old single mom and medical marketing representative from Huntsville, AL
Treasure Morgan
A 28-year-old single mom and nurse practitioner from Salt Lake City, UT