The final episode includes a visit with her family. DeAnna says Jesse and Jason's visit will not be the same as Brad's -- that the family will be leery. Chrissy, D's sister, says the Brad situation crushed her family.

Jason shows up first with flowers and such. The fact that he has a son gives dad pause. But otherwise, the family really likes Jason. Jason tells Chrissy that he hasn't felt this strong for anyone -- that he thought he did when he got married, but he didn't. I'm sure his ex-wife, however awful she might be, will appreciate that comment. Jason also asks Mr. Pappas for D's hand. He says: "I am in love with your daughter, and I did not expect to say that right now." Dad comments that nobody has ever had the guts to ask him that before. I didn't watch the Brad Womack season, so I'm assuming that the much-talked-about Brad did NOT ask for D's hand. More Jason love ensues. The family really likes him.

I also don't know why I wrote down more notes about the Jesse visit, but I did. I like Jason. He's attractive, well-spoken, etc. But the odd couple idea is more fun.

So, then both bachelors have a meal at the same time with the family. A bit awkward. My notes are a bit awkward, too, so here are the highlights: Grandpa's advice (to Jesse? to Jason?): "Always agree with your wife." Jesse comments (to the camera, to the grandparents, to her dad? I can't remember), "I'm just so into her, it hurts." He mentions he's found himself crying over DeAnna. Jesse, too, asks Dad for D's hand. Dad asks Jesse if he's ready. Well, he gets butterflies and his palms sweat! Finally, dad tells Jesse: "When you have my daughter with you, you keep the hair short." Sister-in-law Crystal comments that Jason and his son might fast-forward D's life. "Do you see one as the father of your children more than the other?" asks sister Chrissy.

Back to the Bahamas fun stuff. Jesse and DeAnna go to "their own island." They see fish. Jesse talks more about how great D is. "When you love someone, every second you get to be with them is ridiculous," he says (or something that like). Seriously, what a great sound bite. He then pulls out a little surprise for her. It's a book of thoughts, and, honestly, it's really pretty. He says that he hopes to get the opportunity to continue the book with her, then reads it out loud. He tells her he loves him. She doesn't say it back, she tells the camera, because she only wants to say it to one guy.

J No. 2 and D take a boat to middle of ocean -- they are swimming with sharks! It's a pretty cool date. Afterward, he unveils a board game he made for her called "Eight Roses." I'm not sure which handmade gift I like better. The game took them through their dates and things they've done. One "card" tells them to relive their first kiss. While kissing, she remembered that he put her hand on her chin. Another card reads, "It's secret time: Ask Jason to tell you something new." I know what's coming. You guessed it: He tells her he loves her. Like with Jesse, she doesn't say it back.

Next up: obligatory balcony-based reflection scene. "I can only hope he feels the same way about me," she says about the one she's chosen. Seriously? I  think he does. These guys are dripping with infatuation, love, sappiness, etc.

Time to look at rings: The jewelers asks Jason: "First time you're looking at rings?" Actually not, he says. Hee! Jesse freaks out a bit on the way there. They both pick out huge diamonds. 

For the big day, Jason picks out a snazzy orange tie. Jesse wears a pinkish shirt and a paisley tie (Something a dad would wear, my boyfriend comments.) Jesse has some hand-written notes, which I swear say something like "many years of whip cream? ... cherry?" I have no idea. Maybe I'm seeing things. D, who says she is now "100 percent sure," is wearing a fabulous strapless dress that fades from blue to green.

The best part is seeing who comes out of the limo first, then you KNOW who the winner is! They NEVER reverse this on this show. It's Jason! He tells his the orange tie was Ty's idea: orange for Georgia peach. Aw! J bends down on one knee, and she says, "No , I can't ... let me talk to you." She says she knows her life would have been good with him, but that she's in love with someone else. She adds that she meant everything she said to him. Jason kind of looks around. "I really did fall in love with you," he says. There's a long hug. He leaves. His expression in the limo says it all.  

Jesse's up! D calls Jesse "man of my dreams." It's a cute proposal, and D finally gets to tell him that she loves him. It ends with her saying, "I can't believe I'm going to marry the guy with the pink shoelaces!" And the hideous jacket. But Jesse does seem to have a heart of gold.

 (Photo courtesy of ABC)

After the five minutes of bad theater are over, host Cat Deeley gets right down to business. Deeley, who has redeemed herself with a stunning red dress and gold necklace that looks like something Cleopatra would have worn, announces the first two couples: Kherington and Twitch and Joshua and Katee.

Deeley announces that both are safe. The two teams freak out and jump around with enthusiasm. (I wonder how they would act if they won the competition?)

Courtney G. and Gev are next. The night before they performed a hip-hop routine and then a Broadway routine. They are in the bottom three. Judge Nigel Lythgoe says there is no real reason why they are there. "It's just the way it goes," he says. 

Chelsie H. and Mark are next. They performed a jazz routine and a foxtrot. They are safe.

Comfort and Thayne are did a Broadway routine and a slow waltz. Jessica and Will performed a jive and a lyrical jazz routine. Comfort and Thayne are the third couple in the bottom three.

Time for the solos. Kourtni L. is first. She dances to "No Man" by Nina Stone. She's so graceful, and she makes each move look effortless. Matt is next, dancing to "Sweet Contentment" by Bradley James and the Roades. His leaps are huge, and his moves are so fluid.

Courtney G. is next. It's her first time in the bottom three (and Gev's). She dances to "What's Another Day" by Maria Mena, an artist from Norway. Her routine is fast-paced. Gev has a routine to "Everybody Loves A Carnival " by Fatboy Slim. He's very entertaining with a series of pops, locks and drops. He ends with a running front flip. The crowd goes wild.

Comfort is next with a routine to "Hit The Floor" by Twista featuring Pitbull. I'm scared that her solo might not be enough to get her through another week. Thayne dances to "I Want To Break Free" by Queen. He seems very enthusiastic as he hurls his body through the air. He's always so entertaining.

OneRepublic is next. Deeley announces that the group has sold more than 8 million albums. Surprisingly, the guys are not singing their hit "Apologize." The song they choose to sing, "Say (All I Need)," is horrible.

The judges are back with their decisions.Nigel goes into a sappy speech about how he has never cared about group of contestants on the show as much as this year. (Oh, brother!) He announces that the judges are not unanimous in their decision about the female performers.

Courtney G. is safe. She breaks down, and cries. Nigel tells Comfort that he didn't vote for her because she had a weak solo. She's safe. Kourtni's out. She says she is thankful for the opportunity. "This is not even the top for me," she promises.

It's time for the men. Gev is first. Nigel tells him that the judges were "absolutely pleased" with his solo. He's safe. Nigel says Matt has not progressed since he has joined the show. He's eliminated. Thayne is safe.
Matt says his favorite moment has been performing with the other dances on stage. He says they are the best in the world.

Do you agree with the eliminations?

Jessica and Will are first with the jive choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin to "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" from Five Guys Named Moe. Will is much more polished than Jessica. Judge Mary Murphy says there are a lot of missed connections. Overall a good performance, she says. Judge Nigel Lythgoe agrees with the other judges and basically says Jessica is the weaker of the two.

Kourtni and Matt are next with a Cicely Bradley and Olisa Thompson hip-hop routine to "How Do I Breath" by Mario. I immediately notice how off Kourtni is during the performance. Matt's really overshadowing her.
Tabitha says she's surprised with Matt's performance. Napoleon says it's not good enough. Mary says she doesn't feel the performance. Nigel says there is nothing to get a hold of. "It was a bit like hip-hop on sleeping pills," he says. (Ouch!) 

Chelsie and Mark do a Mandy Moore jazz routine to "Kiss Kiss" by Holly Valance. It's very fast and entertaining. Tabitha says they are able to tell the story. Napoleon says they have a good chemistry. Mary screams that she loves the routine. Nigel says they are the first couple of the night with a connection. "Together ... magic," he says.

Kherington and Twitch are next with a paso doble choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin to "Malaguena" by Brian Setzer. They both make use of caps to start the routine. it's high energy. His posture is a little strange. Napoleon praises the routine. Tabitha says it is a slow build. Mary says the routiine is full of passion. She says the cap work is so-so. She says the routine is "just OK." Nigel says it is entertianing. Nigel says Twitch needs to work on his shoulder position. He basically says Twitch is the weaker of the two.

Katee and Joshua do a contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels to "Hometown Glory" by Adele. It's one of the most dramatic pieces of the night. They stay in character throughout. The crowd loves it. Tabitha says she loves the routine. She says the pair commands the stage. Napoleon says "they've got it." Mary says they haven't messed up through the course of the compeition. She says that Katee is amazing. Nigel says the routine is simple in look and really difficult to do. He says they are one of the three or four couples that will make the season phenomenal.

Courtney G. and Gev are next with a hip-hop routine choreographed by Olisa Thompson and Cicely Bradley to "Lights, Camera, Action!" by Mr. Cheeks. She does a great job. She actually reminds me of a flygirl from In Living Color. She's got skills. Napoleon says Courtney does a better job than Gev. Tabitha says she's feeling Courtney. Mary says Gev isn't hitting it hard enough, but Courtney kills the routine. Nigel says it's fun and funky but doesn't sit comfortably.

Jessica and Will do a lyrical jazz routine choreographed by Mandy Moore to "Alone" by Heart. Mary says the couple is on the "hot tamale train." Nigel says it is fabulous. "It is absolutely beautiful," Nigel says.

Comfort and Thayne are next with a smooth waltz choreographed by Edward Simon to "Hov Arek Sarer Jan" by New Age Armenia. It's a very peaceful yet sensual routine. Napoleon says he really enjoys it. Tabitha says Comfort looks like an angel. She says she's not crazy about Thayne. "It felt phony," she says. Mary says she loves it. "Wow!" Mary says. She praises Comfort. Nigel agrees. He praises the lifts. He says Comfort looks beautiful.

Kourtni and Matt are next with the mambo. They dance to an Alex Da Silva routine to "Ban Con Tin" by Super All-Star. She rebounds from their first routine. It isn't as tight as it should have been. Tabitha says she's hot and cold on the routine. Napoleon says Matt needs to get down more. Mary says Kourtni is hot but that she doesn't believe the chemistry. She says it is too bouncy. Nigel says they don't extend enough. "It's just got to be stronger for me," Nigel says. He then tells audience members that they shouldn't come if they are going to boo comments. (Wow, Nigel!)

Chelsie and Mark  dance the Foxtrot to "It's My Life" by Paul Anka. It feels very old Hollywood. Tabitha praises Chelsie. Napoleon says they are a pleasure to watch. He says they look like they love to dance. Mary says it is elegant and classy. Nigel says Mark is very uncomfortable, and that he should stop dancing from the tips of his toes.

Kherington and Twitch are next with a Mia Michael's contemporary routine to "Dreaming With a Broken Heart" by John Mayer. It's a very imaginative piece. It involves a mattress that is elevated at a slant. The two dance about and jump on and off the bed. They even throw rose petals throughout the routine. Tabitha says they redeem themselves. Napoleon says Twitch does a great job. Mary says it is powerful and dynamic. She loves it. Nigel says they are committed to the routine. "I couldn't stop watching it," he says, adding that they are the second couple to watch.

Katee and Joshua are next with a West Coast swing routine choreographed by Benji Schwimmer to "Shake It" by Brother Yusef.  They do a series of flips, lifts and quick steps. They are so entertaining. Mary says it is a great routine. Nigel says they have the ability to adapt to different styles. "Well done, the pair of you," he says.

Courtney G. and Gev are the last to perform. They do a Broadway routine to "New York, New York" from On The Town. They have a good amount of tricks. But I'm not a huge fan of Broadway. It's so over-the-top and cheesy. Tabitha says overall the performance is amazing. Mary says it is dynamic. "You guys could be headed to the finals," she says, Nigel says the routine is terrific. "You gave it everything you had to give, and that was enough for me tonight," he says.

I'm not proud that I've seen almost every episode of every season of Flavor of Love, Rock of Love and I Love New York, but I'm still going to watch I Love Money.
 
The premise is simple -- contestants from VH1's dating shows milk their 15 minutes of fame by competing to win $250,000. You'll find it more entertaining if you remember this show isn't exactly Emmy material.
 
Not as familiar with the contestants as I (sadly) am? VH1 is airing the questionably named "Meet the All Stars" casting special all week. If you can't catch one of the 10 or 15 airings a day, here's the cast rundown before Sunday's premiere:

How can you compare Cook to Carrie Underwood or even Kellie Pickler? You can't. She doesn't have the vocal chops or stage presence of either Idol-alumna-turned-country-music star. Heck, I don't think Cook could hold court with a number of the contestants on this season of Nashville Star.

Please, please, please somebody tell me what is so special about Ms. Cook?

DeAnna Pappas might have thought that former pro basketball player Graham would be the one standing in the end: But he wasn't. Jesse, Jason and Jeremy are on Grand Bahama Island for dates (overnight, perhaps?) with D. First up, Jeremy.

DeAnna wants to see Jeremy cut loose and have fun. Fun = a spin on Jet Skis. Then, they sit on the beach. But the date is not so fun. In fact, it's awkward. As in silence and staring. Time for dinner. More awkwardness. My boyfriend yells from the kitchen: "It's like The Hills! There's no talking!" Jeremy is reminding me more of a teenage boy with a crush on the cheerleading captain than the confident front-runner we all pegged him to be. Finally, he gets out what he's been wanting to say: He is falling in love with her. (I still don't buy the whole "I love you"-in-six-dates scenario.) Next comes the fantasy suite invite. For those readers not familiar with the show, host Chris Harrison "sends" a note asking the men if they'd like to spend the night with the bachelorette. Jeremy's quick reply is, "Should we go now?" He says his dream is that he's down on one knee, proposing to DeAnna. She's on "cloud nine." I am kind of bored. They disappear behind a closed door.

Finally, Jesse. DeAnna says she needs Jesse to act like her boyfriend (they just had their first kiss last episode, but she's been kissing the other guys for quite some time). They go horseback riding (on the beach and in the ocean), which looks awfully fun to me despite the fact that every time I ride a horse, I fall off it. Jesse says to DeAnna, "You are ridiculous!" I'm assuming he's talking about the awesome date, but don't these guys get that the producers probably create these fabulous scenarios? At dinner, J tells D that she looks stunning. (She's wearing a 1980-ish, off-the-shoulder striped baggy shirt and headband. I'm not feeling it.) They discuss how they're on the "before 30" program for kids, which probably makes many viewers feel old. More serious discussion ensues about how she'll fit into Jesse's snowboarding life. When it comes to the fantasy suite, Jesse responds: "I don't know if I can [stay overnight with you] before I meet your dad." DeAnna: "Are you for real?" "Finally! Good television!" I think. But then Jesse says, "Just kidding!"

Elimination time. Jesse gets the first rose. Wow! I didn't expect that one. But hey, maybe opposites attract. And he is a sweet guy. Next? Jason! Perfect-on-paper Jeremy is out! He can't even look at her. DeAnna tells him that she didn't want to confuse the bond over losing parents (both his parents are dead; her mom died) for love. She apologizes and cries. "I didn't see it coming," he says. Then, once in the limo, being driven away to his non-DeAnna existence, he tells the driver to stop! But does he do anything crazy, like run back and beg for her love? No, he just kind of walks around outside and wallows.

Next up! The "Men Tell All" special. I'll sum up the hour with three highlights:

Jeremy exudes so much more personality. He gets cuter in my eyes. DeAnna lets us know that she wanted to end up with him so badly but that her dates with the other J's made it clear that he wasn't the one. Perhaps he will be the next bachelor?

Some suitor I've long since forgotten about calls D "Obsessive Compulsive DeAnna." I find this pretty funny. She is fairly obsessive about telling the guys that they need to open up.

Finally, our bachelorette tells us: "I am very happy, I am in love, and I am engaged."

Who do you think she'll end up with? (I've read that many of the guys think Jesse will be the one.) What did you think of the episode? Should people in their mid- to late-20s be going on a TV to find a spouse? 

The show started where it ended last week. Craig said he was still recovering from hypothermia. He was totally dreading the first mission, and for good reason. The group was taken to an old, abandoned prison for the task, which required them to free themselves after being chained together. The key to their freedom could only be accessed if the group agreed to allow each contestant enough slack in the chain to reach it. The catch? Next to the key was an exemption. If any contestant took the exemption, he would then force the remaining contestants to sleep in the cold prison the rest of the night.
 

That left Mark. Several of the contestants thought that Mark was going to take the exemption, but he didn't. He later confessed that he didn't take it because it would draw suspicion to himself. (Mole behavior?) 

The next day, the group left the Andes Mountains and went to Mendoza, Argentina. The group split into two vans and drove to a new location, which host Jon Kelley described as "The Napa Valley" of Argentina. Paul made sure the road trip remained interesting. He started taunting Clay to the point that they almost came to blows. Clay went so far as to throw a lemon at Paul. Eventually, Clay got into the other van to get away from the always-prickly Paul. The group got to Mendoza without further incident.

In the episode's second challenge, the group was required to complete a race using different means of transportation. Craig, who was "selected" leader, was able to decide the way each competitor would complete the mission. Craig could choose from a variety of modes, including a scooter and bicycle. But Craig was tempted to handicap his teammates: If none of the contestants made it to the finish line, Craig would receive an exemption. (Craig was selected leader because he was the first contestant to say the word exemption during a conversation with Jon. Totally Mole behavior!)

Craig made the contestants use the worst forms of transportation possible. Clay had to ride a unicycle. Kristen had to use stilts. The funniest mode was when Craig selected sworn enemies Nicole and Paul to dress in a llama outfit.

Needless to say, the contestants were none too pleased. In fact, they refused to complete the mission. (Craig later said he suspected Mark of being the Mole for persuading the group not to finish.) As a result, the group did not add any more money to the pot, and Craig got an exemption. The contestants were really mad at Craig. He lost the trust and respect of most of them.

The elimination basically came out of nowhere. Looking back at it, I guess there was a little foreshadowing that Kristen would leave. There was a little clip of all the contestants talking about their strategy. Kristen admitted to focusing her attention on the same contestant each quiz. Other contestants said they used an encompassing method that didn't adversely affect them if they suspected the wrong person of being the Mole.

I'm really sad to see Kristen go. She was a fierce competitor. I liked her strength and intelligence. I also thought she had a decent shot of either winning the competition or being the Mole.  

Host Cat Deeley comes out and immediately starts revealing which couples are safe. Chelsea T. and Thayne soon find out that their quickstep the night before isn't enough. They are the first couple in the bottom three. Judge Mary Murphy tells them that they got a really tough dance. She also tells them that the judges will take the contestants' past performances into account when making their elimination decisions.

Kourtni L and Matt are the last couple in the bottom three. This decision surprises me, because I feel they danced really well the night before.

A group called Qwest does a spectacular hip-hop routine with a ton of break-dancing. It's really good. Then I realize that Dominic, a contestant from last year, is a member of the group. I like them even more!

It's finally time for the solos. Chelsea T. does her solo to "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway. She's very strong and all-smiles. Thayne does his to "Always" by Bon Jovi. He makes the most of each section of the stage. Each leap, turn, run and jump eats up another inch of the spotlight. He does a good job. Comfort does her solo to "Just Fine" by Mary J. Blige. She's so quick and powerful; she's a force.

Chris does his solo to "After Tonight" by Justin Nozuka. It's time for him to go. The routine is just blah. There's nothing really noteworthy. Kourtni L. does her solo to "First Door (Live)" by Ani DiFranco. She's such a performer, and she does a good job connecting with the crowd. Several times, she dances to the end of the stage and essentially flirts with the audience. It's good showmanship. Matt does his solo to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. He's much more energetic than Chris, which might help him out.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is next with a live performance of her new single "One Step at a Time." (Yawn!) I wish she would take a couple steps off the stage. I'm eager to see which contestants will be sent home.

Judge Nigel Lythgoe addresses the women first. He tells them that each has been in the bottom three for the past couple of weeks. (Way to state the obvious!) "You have to realize America is telling you something here," he says. "You've got to find it. Those people standing in front of me have to bring it, or next week you'll be going home."

He immediately tells Chelsea that it is the end of the road. "I feel so privileged," she says. "It was an amazing experience. There is a lot for me to learn still, and there is a lot for me to do still. So, this isn't the end of the road for me."

The guys are next. Nigel says Matt's solo was brilliant. He's safe. He tells Chris that it's time to go. Nigel adds that Thayne and Comfort will be paired up next week.

Chris cries."This has been a dream come true," he says. "To work with you guys, this is crazy ... . Thanks so much for everything."

I can't say I'm really disappointed with either decision. I look forward to the chemistry (or lack thereof) between Comfort and Thayne next week. 

Twitch and Kherington do a hip-hop routine choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo to "Can't Touch Me Now" by Busta Rhymes. They are dressed as fugitives and really get into character. They also master the difficult moves and are in unison for most of the routine. Twitch, a hip-hop dancer, does expectedly well. Kherington does a wonderful job keeping pace.

Nigel says they are brilliant dancers with a spirit and energy that go beyond dancers. "You danced it brilliantly," Nigel says. Mary says they are on the top 10 most-wanted list for So You Think You Can Dance. She also gives her legendary shriek of approval. Adam says the performance was "awesome." He says they do a good job knowing when to hit it and when to hold back. "All in all, awesome," Adam says.

Nigel says he's very, very happy with the routine. Mary loves it as well. "It was so tight and crisp," Mary says. She also praises the posture. Adam says he really, really loves it. Adam suggests that they think more about their hands and reach. (I really don't see what all the fuss is about. It is just an OK routine to me.)

Comfort and Chris -- a hip-hop dancer and a contemporary dancer -- do a jazz routine to "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson and choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. There is something tribal yet futuristic about their performance.

Nigel says he is disappointed with the power behind the routine. He says Chris is a little soft. "It should have been stronger and animalistic," Nigel says. Mary agrees: "I became slightly disinterested." Adam says the two should be more expressive. "I thought you guys did really good," Adam says.

Contemporary dancers Jessica and Will do a disco routine to "Heaven Must Have Sent You" by Bonnie and choreographed by Doriana Sanchez. They do a good job. Once again, he appears to be the stronger of the two.

Nigel, noting their mistakes, says they danced it very well. Mary says Will owned the routine. Adam calls them out for a mistake at the end of the routine. "I thought the routine was really fantastic," he says. He tells Jessica that she is so "special" and "great." He tells Will he is "so scary" and "so good."

Contemporary dancers Kourtni L. and Matt dance in their specialty genre and do a contemporary routine to "Wrestlers (Sticky, Dirty Pop Mix)" by Hot Chip and choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. These dancers do a fantastic job in this funky routine. They are very fun and entertaining.

The judges agree that Matt needs to loosen up. They also say that overall the pair danced really well.

Contemporary dancers Chelsea T. and Thayne dance the quickstep to "You Can't Hurry Love" by Phil Collins and choreographed by Heather Smith. The quickstep has proven to be a tough assignment in past seasons, and this is no exception. Even a cute side-by-side dance during the breakdown portion of the dance can't save the performance.

Nigel tells them to get ready to dance for their lives. (Ouch!) Mary tells Thayne that he is barely on the "hot tamale" train. She says Chelsea has been completely kicked off the train.  

Chelsie H. and Mark -- a Latin dancer and a contemporary dancer -- do a hip-hop routine to "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis and choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo.

Nigel says they are excellent. He says Chelsie H. dances with enough passion. Mary loves it. Adam screams in support of the dancing. "You guys put life into it," he says. "You guys are the couple  to beat."

Katee and Joshua -- a contemporary dancer and a hip-hop dancer -- are next with the samba choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin to "Baila, Baila" by Angela Via. The pair is very spicy on the floor. They really get into the groove and dance down into the floor. The crowd goes wild.

The judges gush over the pair. Nigel praises the routine. He says she doesn't overaccentuate the moves. He says Joshua has a natural samba movement, and then asks Joshua if he got his "buns" from his father, who is sitting in the audience. Joshua's father shows off his backside to the screaming audience. Mary loves the performance. She says they are on the "hot tamale train" (a very good thing). Adam says "that was competing." He says Katee is "smoking."

I think Chelsea T and Thayne, Courtney G. and Gev, and Comfort and Chris should be in the bottom three this week. We'll see what happens during the results show tonight.